Taeja James

Taeja Nicole James (born 15 October 2002) is an English artistic gymnast. She won a silver medal in the team event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and competed at the 2018 European Championships and the 2019 World Championships. Earlier in her career, she won a silver medal with the British team at the 2016 Junior European Championships.

James won the silver medal in the junior all-around at the 2016 British Championships.^[2] She then competed at the 2016 Junior European Championships and helped the British team win the silver medal behind Russia.^[3] At the 2016 Elite Gym Massilia, she won the silver medal on the floor exercise behind Anastasia Ilyankova.^[4]

James won the junior all-around title at the 2017 British Championships despite falling off the beam.^[5] She then finished fifth in the all-around at the 2017 European Youth Olympic Festival.^[6]

James became age-eligible for senior competitions in 2018. She won the vault bronze medal and the floor exercise silver medal at the 2018 British Championships.^[7] At 15 years and 6 months old, James was the youngest athlete representing England at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.^[1] She was not originally selected for the team but was brought in to replace the injured Amy Tinkler.^[8] While there, she helped England win the team silver medal.^[9] She qualified for the floor exercise final in first place, but she stepped out of bounds twice in the final and finished seventh.^[8] She then competed with the British team that finished fourth at the 2018 European Championships.^[10]

James finished eighth in the all-around at the 2019 British Championships. In the event finals, she won a bronze medal on the floor exercise and finished fifth on the balance beam.^[11] She helped Great Britain finish sixth at the 2019 World Championships.^[12]

• Taeja James at the International Gymnastics Federation