Alex Buesnel

Alexander Thomas Harry Buesnel (born 8 October 1992) is a British artistic gymnast. He is a ten-time British Disability Gymnastics Champion[1] as well as a Gold medalist in the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece.[2] He was born in Jersey, Channel Islands, and started his gymnastics career in 2004 under the watchful eye of Jersey Special Gymnastics Club founder John Grady MBE.[3] Since 2004, Buesnel has competed in competitions across the globe representing both Jersey and Great Britain in National, European and World championships. One of his favourite skill elements is the 'Russian Lever'.

Alex Buesnel
Buesnel carrying the Olympic Flame in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Alexander Thomas Harry Buesnel
Country represented	Great Britain  Jersey
Born	8 October 1992 Jersey, Channel Islands
Hometown	Saint Saviour, Jersey
Discipline	Men's artistic gymnastics
Club	Jersey Special Gymnastics Club
Medal record Representing  Great Britain Men's artistic gymnastics Special Olympics World Games 2011 Athens Floor 2011 Athens Rings 2011 Athens Parallel Bars 2011 Athens Horizontal Bar 2011 Athens Pommel Horse 2011 Athens Vault 2011 Athens All-Round Special Olympics European Games 2014 Belgium Floor 2014 Belgium Pommel Horse 2014 Belgium Rings 2014 Belgium Parallel Bars 2014 Belgium Horizontal Bar 2014 Belgium All-Round 2014 Belgium Vault Representing  Jersey British Open Champion 2017 Lilleshall Champion 2016 Lilleshall Champion 2015 Bolton Champion 2014 Lilleshall Champion 2013 Newcastle Champion 2012 Newcastle Champion 2011 Poole Champion 2010 Newcastle Champion 2009 Newcastle Champion 2008 London Champion Natwest Island Games 2017 Gotland Team SET Special Olympics National Games 2017 Sheffield All-Round 2013 Bath All-Round 2009 Leicester All-Round

Early life

Alexander Thomas Harry Buesnel was born in Saint Helier, Jersey on 8 October 1992. Alex was introduced to Gymnastics in September 2004 when Buesnel joined the Jersey Special Gymnastics Club aged 11. In 2005, he competed in his first mainland competition in Poole where he won three Gold medals at Level 1 and a further Gold on vault at Level 2. He repeated his achievements in 2006 and 2007, taking three Gold medals at both Level 2 and 3 in the next two consecutive years. Progressing through the set levels, Buesnel moved up to Level 4 (the highest tier) in 2008.

In 2007, he won the Alan Kelly Memorial Trophy for achievement in Special Gymnastics in Jersey.[4] A feat he repeated in December 2017, 10 years after first winning the award.

Senior career

2008

2008 was an important year for Alex Buesnel. The Jerseyman was selected for the Great Britain team in August 2008. Alex moved up to Level 4 - the highest level of Special Gymnastics. In November 2008, Buesnel lifted his first British Open title in London - the first ever Jersey Special Gymnast to do so.

Shortly after his first title, the Channel Islander was invited to his first event outside the British Isles - the Blume Festival in Gran Canaria. This trip included training camps, displays and a friendly competition at the end of the week long experience.

2009

A busy second year at senior level for Buesnel saw him contest his first Special Olympics National Games in Leicester. Five Gold's, one Silver and a fourth on horizontal bar propelled him to the All-Round Gold medal. This was backed-up with his second British Open title - this time secured in Newcastle.

Alex travelled to Berlin, Germany for his second international training camp with the Great Britain squad.

2010

Buesnel commenced foundation coaching as part of his Sport course at Highlands College as well his Gymnastics career.

2011

As well as scooping his fourth British title in Poole, Buesnel was named in the Great Britain squad for the upcoming Special Olympics World Games in Athens, Greece. Alex brought home a Gold medal on the Floor as well as Silver on the Rings, Parallel Bars, Horizontal Bar and Bronze on the Vault which sealed a hard-fought overall All-Round Bronze medal at his first Olympic Games.

Away from competition, Buesnel went about becoming a coach and in November 2011 he passed his Level 1 Coaching assessment.

2012

Buesnel reached an important milestone in November 2012 when the Channel Islander claimed five straight British Open titles. A week later Alex was recognised for his British success when he was awarded the Jersey Sports Association For The Disabled (JSAD) Sports Personality of the Year.

As one of Jersey's most decorated sportsmen, Alex was selected as one of the 20 Flame carriers when he took part in the London 2012 Olympic torch relay in St Helier, Jersey in July 2012[5]

2013

In his second Special Olympics National Games in Bath, Buesnel chalked-up more medals. Six Gold's and a Silver propelled him to the top step, claiming the all-round Gold. Buesnel was also awarded another Gold medal in a special gala event to close the competition.

2014

Buesnel contested his first Special Olympics European Games in Antwerp, Belgium.[6] Before the competition Buesnel along with his fellow athletes enjoyed a special reception with Prime Minister David Cameron.[7] At the competition, Alex claimed three Gold's, three Silver and a Bronze - a strong showing for the Jerseyman and was just pipped to the All-Round Gold.

As well as his European success Alex excelled in Britain. In March 2014, Disability Gymnasts' profile was raised when the sport was run alongside the British Gymnastics Championships at Echo Arena in Liverpool. Alex won the Disability All-Round Gold while sharing the arena with Olympic greats including Louis Smith MBE and Daniel Keatings.[8]

2015

In March 2015, Alex competed in his second British Masters competition at the Echo Arena in Liverpool claiming four Gold and two Silver medals. Buesnel's domination of the British Open Championship also continued with Gold All-Round on his way to his eighth straight British title winning all pieces of apparatus.

Another of his achievement's in 2015 was to take two Silver medals and a Bronze for Jersey in the mainstream Inter Island Games in Anglesey, Wales in 2015.[9]

2016

As well as his ninth British Open success, 2016 saw Buesnel become an ambassador for British Gymnastics, the governing body for gymnastics in the United Kingdom.[10][11][12][13][14] The Channel Islander also passed his Level 2 Coaching assessment.

2017

In the summer of 2017, Buesnel contested his third Special Olympics National Games in Sheffield and thrived in competition as he was awarded seven Gold medals. Alex was chosen to perform his Horizontal Bar routine at a special gala performance to close the competition.

2017 was a breakthrough year for Buesnel as he was selected for the 13-strong squad to represent Jersey in the Natwest Island Games in Gotland that year. The Jerseyman was the first disabled athlete to represent the island in the biennial games. As well as helping the team collect Silver, Buesnel also qualified for two finals to compete for individual medal honours - but just missed out on a rostrum position.[15][16]

In September, Alex was shortlisted as finalist for the Jersey Evening Post Pride of Jersey Awards.[17]

To round off a successful 2017, Buesnel lifted his tenth consecutive British Open Championship title, laying the foundations for a decade of dominance.[18] Buesnel also was awarded the JSAD Sports Personality of the Year for the second time.

2018

At the beginning of 2018 Alex was recognised for his services to Gymnastics in the Channel Islands and was awarded the Michael Lucas Sporting Hero Award at the Betway Channel Islands Sports Personality Awards in Guernsey. [19][20]

In March, Buesnel made the shortlist for the 2017 Jersey Sports Council Sports Personality of the Year. [21] After missing out on the main trophy, the gymnast won an award for achievement in Disability sport. [22]

In the same month Alex competed in his final competition, the British Masters competition at the Echo Arena in Liverpool - walking away with three Gold and two Silver medals. [23]

Retirement

On the Tuesday 20 March 2018 Alex Buesnel announced his retirement from competitive gymnastics after 14 years in the sport. The Jerseyman will continue to train and will now focus on his coaching career - inspiring the next generation of gymnasts. [24] [25][26][27][28]

Honours

• 10-time British Open Gymnastics Champion
• Special Olympics Gold Medalist
• British Gymnastics Ambassador
• JSAD Sports Personality of the Year (2012 and 2017)
• JSAD Special Merit Award (2009 and 2016)
• Michael Lucas Sporting Hero Award - Channel Islands Sports Personality Awards 2017

References

1. "Alex storms to 9th British title as Jersey shines again". JSAD.eu. Jersey Sports Association for the Disabled. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
2. "Alexander Buesnel". SpecialOlympicsGB.org.uk. Special Olympics Great Britain. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
3. "Two decades of special service". JerseyEveningPost.com. Guiton Publishing. 7 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
4. Patterson, Paul (20 November 2007). "Alex Buesnel picks up Gymnastic Achievement Award". BBC.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
5. "Alex Buesnel is JSAD Sports Personality of the Year". BBC.co.uk. BBC. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
6. "Special Olympics European Games: GB team bid for medals". BBC Sport. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
7. "Prime Minister to host Special Olympics GB Euro team at Downing Street". English Federation of Disability Sport. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
8. "SportsAid - News". www.sportsaid.org.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
9. "Jersey special gymnast stars at mainstream event". ITV.com. ITV plc. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
10. "Disability Gymnastics: Alex Buesnell Ambassador". British-Gymnastics.org. British Gymnastics. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
11. "British Gymnastics are proud to introduce Disability Gymnastics Ambassadors". ActiveNorfolk.org. Active Norfolk. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
12. Norris, Roisin (13 September 2016). "British Gymnastics: Meet the Disability Gymnastics Ambassadors". DisabledGo.com. DisabledGo. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
13. "Tag: Gymnastics". CPSSport.org. CP Sport England & Wales. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
14. "Disability Gymnastics Ambassadors". ActionForPeople.org.uk. Action for People. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
15. "Making history: Buesnel bags silver in Games debut". ITV News. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
16. "Alex Buesnel: Special gymnastics champion makes Jersey 2017 Island Games squad". BBC Sport. 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
17. "Pride of Jersey Awards". www.prideofjersey.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
18. "Decade of titles for Jersey gymnast". ITV News. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
19. Fox, Jason. "Le Poullain scoops top award". jerseyeveningpost.com. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
20. Express, Bailiwick. "Local champion calls for more recognition in special gymnastics". Bailiwick Express. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
21. Fox, Jason. "Public voting first for Council's main award". jerseyeveningpost.com. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
22. "Jersey Sports Association for the Disabled - Latest News". www.jsad.eu. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
23. "Junior and disability champions crowned on final day of 2018 Gymnastics British Championships". British Gymnastics. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
24. "Champion Gymnast, Alex Buesnel announces retirement". ITV News. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
25. Fox, Jason. "Top Brit Buesnel announces retirement". jerseyeveningpost.com. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
26. "Gymnast Alex Buesnel Retires - Channel 103". Channel 103. 21 March 2018. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
27. "Champion Gymnast, Alex Buesnel announces retirement - Jersey Peeps Social Network". Jersey Peeps Social Network. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
28. "'...it's not about what they can't do, it's about what they can do...' - the Jersey gymnasts going to the 2019 Special Olympics, Sportscene - BBC Radio Jersey". BBC. Retrieved 30 March 2018.