BETH Tweddle insists the next generation of British gymnasts

are ready to step into her shoes when she heads into the sunset

following the Beijing Olympics.

A rib injury means the former Crewe and Nantwich gymnast

will only compete on the individual bars and floor as well as

in the team event in China before she takes a curtain call at

next year's World Championships in London.

The 23-year-old became the first Brit ever to win a world

gold and she believes she has paved the way for the likes of

Becky Downie and Hannah Whelan to conquer on the international

stage.

"A lot has changed since I first started competing," said

Tweddle, who takes her place in team qualifying for Artistic

Gymnastics on Sunday. "The belief both in myself and the rest

of the girls has shot up and they have realised we can go and

compete for a medal.

"It is not just a case of going to a World Championships or

Olympics for the experience – we are now going there to win

medals.

"For the first time there were quite a few of us trying out

for the Olympics, which was hard because we had to leave quite

a few people at home which shows the strength and depth of the

team.

"A few years ago most coaches would have been doing

full-time jobs and trying to coach their elite athletes. Now a

lot of them are just elite coaches for getting us to games like

this.

"I don't think it will be long before we do get gold in the

Olympics. There are a lot of kids coming through that are

really promising for 2012.

"It is just a case of keeping them in the sport long enough

to see the results."

Tweddle has come a long way since she first came through the

doors of Crewe and Nantwich club as a talented

seven-year-old.

After debuting on the international scene in 2001 her real

high point came when she finished 2006 as world, European and

World Cup champion on the uneven bars.

The one thing missing from her collection is an Olympic

medal. But Tweddle – who will take a foundation course in

physiotherapy at Liverpool University later this year –

maintains she will exit with her head held high regardless of

what happens in Beijing.

She said: "With the team placing of fifth last year, we

would love to repeat that or go one better this year.

"I am probably an outside bet for a medal. Anything is

possible because all the teams are so close; it's about what

you do on the day.

"Any medal of any colour would just be the icing on the

cake. I have had so much throughout my career that I never even

dreamt that I would have got so far.

"I guess I put pressure on myself by taking those medals and

coming to these games.

"Another Olympic medal is my ultimate goal, but it is not

something I would look back on and regret for the rest of my

career. I have had some fantastic wins and after this I am

looking forward to the next stage of my life."