Edward Upcott

Last updated

Edward Upcott
Born
Edward Robin Upcott

(1991-12-29) 29 December 1991 (age 32) [1]
Chertsey, Surrey, England [1]
NationalityBritish
Known forFlyer for Spelbound; [2] [3]
With Doug Fordyce, World Acrobatic gymnastics men's pairs champion 2010; [4] [5] [6]
5 time British champion; [1]
With others, holder of Guinness World Record for Highest Throw and Catch of a Person [7] [8]
Edward Upcott
Country represented United Kingdom
Height1.52 m (5 ft 0 in) [9]
Discipline Acrobatic gymnastics
LevelInternational
Years on national team2002 – 2012
ClubSpelthorne School of Gymnastics
GymSpelthorne School of Gymnastics
Head coach(es)Neil Griffiths
Assistant coach(es)Andrew Griffiths
ChoreographerNicola Yellop
Retired2012
Medal record
Men's acrobatic gymnastics
Representing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
World Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2008 Glasgow Men's Pairs
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2010 Wrocław Men's Pairs
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2012 Lake Buena Vista Men's Pairs

Edward Robin Upcott (born 29 December 1991) [1] is a five times British acrobatic gymnast champion [10] who was world men's pairs champion in partnership with Doug Fordyce, winning the gold medal in July 2010 in Poland. [4] [5] [6] [11] Before his partnership with Fordyce, Upcott was in partnership with Mark Fyson, who retired in 2009 after the pair had won the bronze medal in the 2008 world championships in Glasgow. [12] With his new partner Adam McAssey, Upcott was awarded the silver medal in the 2012 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships. [13]

Contents

Upcott came to UK national public attention with his membership of the gymnastic group Spelbound, who rose to fame in 2010, winning the fourth series of Britain's Got Talent . Part of their performance was a spectacular throw of Upcott over the heads of the judges, catching him in the main performance area. [2] [14] [15] [16] The prize was £100,000 and the opportunity to appear at the 2010 Royal Variety Performance.

With Spelbound, Upcott holds the world record for 'Highest throw and catch of a person', where he was the person thrown and caught. The successful record attempt was televised on the UK children's TV show Blue Peter . [7] [8]

Upcott left Spelbound in 2012 to pursue other avenues. [17] [18] While still a member, he was cast as a stunt double for Asa Butterfield in Hugo . [10] He works with Doug Fordyce as Brothers of Eden. [19] His stated ambition is to be part of Cirque du Soleil. [3]

Personal life

Upcott was educated at The Magna Carta School in Surrey. [1]

A long-term asthmatic, Upcott has learned how to control this such that it has no impact on his sporting endeavours. [3] [20] His official biography states that, as a child, he nearly died during his first asthma attack. [1] [21]

His younger siblings, Alice and Adam are also acrobatic gymnasts. [22] [23]

Related Research Articles

The Magna Carta School is an 11–16 academy school in Staines, England, which has been awarded specialisms in Technology and ICT. It is named after Magna Carta due to its proximity to Runnymede, where the document was signed. The school contains over 1200 pupils including over 60 prefects.

Gymnastics has been part of all World Games. Among the disciplines, there are rhythmic gymnastics, trampolining and tumbling as well as acrobatics and aerobics. Artistic gymnastics are not contested at the World Games because all of its disciplines have always been Olympic sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristin Allen</span> American acrobatic gymnast

Kristin Allen is a Hall of Fame American acrobatic gymnast. Kristin and her partner Michael Rodrigues made history by becoming the first American mixed pair to win a gold medal from the World Games in 2009 and the second American pair to win the Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships in 2010. Domestically, the pair have won national titles in 2008 and 2010. She competed for the United States of America Gymnastics from 2001 until her retirement in August 2010 and spent five of those years on the Senior National Team.

Spelbound are a gymnastic troupe from the United Kingdom who rose to fame in 2010, winning the fourth series of Britain's Got Talent. The prize was £100,000 and the opportunity to appear at the 2010 Royal Variety Performance. They also performed in the Britain's Got Talent Live tour. They have since performed at numerous venues and have been featured in advertisements.

Axl Osborne is an acrobatic gymnast. He currently competes as the base in a mixed pair with his partner Tiffani Williams. With partner Tiffani Williams, Osbourne came 2nd at the 2016 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships. He previously competed as the base in a Level 9 mixed pair with his partner, acrobatic gymnast Lydia Webb.

Michael Rodrigues is a retired elite acrobatic gymnast who now performs in the Cirque du Soleil show Viva ELVIS in Las Vegas, Nevada, along with his former mixed-pairs partner, retired elite acrobatic gymnast Kristin Allen.

Clare Brunson is a retired elite acrobatic gymnast who competed as the top in a mixed-pair team with elite acrobatic gymnast Michael Rodrigues, also now retired.

Marie Annonson is a retired elite acrobatic gymnast who currently owns the acrobatic gymnastics facility WestCoast Training Center (WCTC) in Livermore, California.

Youri Germanovich Vorobyev is a Soviet-born coach of acrobatic gymnastics who produced more than a dozen world-championship acrobatic gymnasts during his coaching career in the Soviet Union and Russia.

Douglas Fordyce, known usually as Doug Fordyce, is a British acrobatic gymnast who won the title of world men's pairs champion with Edward Upcott in July 2010 in Poland.

Adam McAssey is a British acrobatic gymnast who won the title of world men's fours champion with Adam Buckingham, Alex Uttley and Jonathan Stranks in July 2010 in Poland. With partner Edward Upcott, McAssey achieved silver in the 2012 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships.

Adam Buckingham is a British acrobatic gymnast who won the title of world men's fours champion with Adam McAssey, Alex Uttley and Jonathan Stranks in July 2010 in Poland.

Alex Uttley is a British acrobatic gymnast who won the title of world men's fours champion with Adam Buckingham, Adam McAssey and Jonathan Stranks in July 2010 in Poland.

Jonathan Stranks is a British acrobatic gymnast who won the title of world men's fours champion with Adam Buckingham, Adam McAssey and Alex Uttley in July 2010 in Poland.

Mark Fyson is a British former acrobatic gymnast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships</span>

The 2010 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships was the 22nd edition of acrobatic gymnastics competition and were held in Wrocław, Poland from 16 to 18 July 2010, at the Hala Orbita.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice Upcott</span> British acrobatic gymnast

Alice Upcott is a retired British female acrobatic gymnast and the sister of Edward Upcott, world champion in 2010. With Dominic Smith, she was awarded the gold medal in the 2013 World Games, the gold medal at the 2013 Acrobatic Gymnastics European Championships and the silver medal in the 2014 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dominic Smith (gymnast)</span> British acrobatic gymnast

Dominic Smith is a British male acrobatic gymnast. With Alice Upcott, he was awarded the gold medal in the 2013 World Games, the gold medal at the 2013 Acrobatic Gymnastics European Championships and the silver medal in the 2014 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiley Boynton</span> American acrobatic gymnast

Kiley Boynton is an American female acrobatic gymnast. With Ryan Ward, she was awarded the bronze medal in the 2014 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexei Dudchenko</span> Russian acrobatic gymnast

Alexei Dudchenko is a Russian male acrobatic gymnast medalled at five Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships. In partnership with Konstantin Pilipchuk, he is a two-times world champion in men's pairs, winning in the 2012 and 2014. He won silver medals at the 2006, 2008 and 2010. Along with Pilipchuk, he also won silver medal on the 2009 World Games, gold medal on the 2013 World Games and is a four-time European champion.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Edward Upcott - Biography". Archived from the original on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2012. Edward was born on Sunday 29th December 1991
  2. 1 2 "Prepare to be gobsmacked". The Press and Journal. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2012. Over 19million TV viewers flinched as they watched Edward Upcott soar over the heads of Piers Morgan, Amanda Holden and Simon Cowell.
  3. 1 2 3 Penn, Elaine (2 December 2010). "Interview Extra - Edward Upcott, The Royal Variety Performance". TV Choice. Retrieved 26 September 2012. Edward Upcott is mostly recognised as the gymnast who was thrown over the judges heads in the final of Britain's Got Talent. Now, the 19-year-old, who won the 2010 Senior Acrobatic World Championship, is preparing for this year's Royal Variety Performance, alongside his Spelbound group members[ permanent dead link ]
  4. 1 2 "BBC Sport - Gymnast Edward Upcott leads Surrey Sports Award stars". BBC Online . Retrieved 26 September 2012. Gymnast Edward Upcott won the Sports Personality of the Year award at the 2010 Surrey Sports Awards. The 18-year-old was recognised for his achievements after he won gold in the men's pairs event at the World Acrobatic Gymnastic Championship in Poland in July.
  5. 1 2 "BBC Sport - Gymnastics - Devon gymnast Douglas Fordyce wins world gold". BBC Online . 20 July 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2012. Devon's Douglas Fordyce has won gold at the World Acrobatic Gymnastic Championships in Poland, alongside Edward Upcott in the men's pair. Fordyce and Upcott clinched the title with a score of 28.662, beating the Russian pair [28.506] into second.
  6. 1 2 "British World Triumph in Poland". British Gymnastics . 18 July 2010. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012. The last day of the World Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships in Wrozlaw, Poland was marked by truly unique British success - both our Men's Pair and Men's Four won World titles in their respective categories.
    •Men's Pair: Douglas Fordyce & Edward Upcott
    •Men's Four: Adam Buckingham, Adam McAssey, Alex Uttley, Jonathan Stranks
  7. 1 2 "Highest throw and catch of a person". Guinness World Records . 17 January 2011. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2012. The highest throw and catch of a person is 3.66 m (12 ft) and was achieved by Adam McAssey, Adam Buckingham, Edward Upcott, Alex Uttley and Chris Rogers (all UK) from Spelbound Dance Company on the set of Blue Peter in London, UK, on 17 January 2011.
  8. 1 2 "Edward Upcott - Spelbound - Official Website of 2010 Britains Got Talent Winners". 18 January 2011. Archived from the original on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012. Spelbound set a brand new World Record in the Blue Peter studio when Edward Upcott was thrown over a bar suspended 12 feet above the studio floor.
  9. 1 2 "Profile for Edward Upcott :: Sports Promotions (UK) Ltd" . Retrieved 26 September 2012. Acrobatic British Champion 5 Times, overall World Champion 2010 ; Worked as a Stunt Double on Scorses's Invention of hugo Cabret
  10. "BBC SPORT - Other sport... - Gymnastics - Devon teenager wins world bronze". BBC Online . 24 July 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2012. Devon's Douglas Fordyce has won bronze in the acrobatic gymnastics at the World Games in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Fordyce, 19 and his partner Edward Upcott, 17, finished third in the men's pair finals.
  11. "2010 Wroclaw ACRO World Championships : News". Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique. 8 June 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2012. After the retirement of his partner Mark Fyson in 2009, 18 year old British acrobatic gymnast Edward Upcott teamed up with Douglas Fordyce (20) to build the country's new number one Men's Pair.
  12. "2012 Lake Buena Vista ACRO World Championships : News". Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique. 18 April 2012. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2012. This is likely to be Upcott and McAssey's final performance performance in the amateur arena. Upcott, who won the 2010 World title with former partner Douglas Fordyce, and McAssey, a member of Britain's World title winning men's four the same year, are both retiring to pursue other projects. "It's been absolutely amazing," McAssey said of their journey in Acro earlier this week.
  13. Millar, Paul (5 June 2010). "Spelbound win 'Britain's Got Talent'". London: Digital Spy . Retrieved 5 June 2010. Having been the bookies' favourite for most of the series, the gymnast troupe beat comic dance duo Twist & Pulse.
  14. "Gymnast troupe Spelbound win Britain's Got Talent". BBC News. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010. Judge Simon Cowell said "the right boys and girls won on the night". He likened Spelbound's routine to an Olympic gold medal-winning performance and said it was one of the most astonishing things he had ever seen on live TV.
  15. "Britain's Got Talent winner's Spelbound want to be in Olympics - 3am & Mirror Online". Daily Mirror . 7 June 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2012. In a breathtaking live move, Edward Upcott was thrown over the heads of judges Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden.
  16. "We'll miss you – thank you x". Spelbound. 6 September 2012. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012. Doug and Ed are pursuing their own stage act
  17. "Edward Upcott.com - Latest News". 10 August 2012. Archived from the original on 29 June 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012. After 2 years performing with Spelbound, Edward has announced he will be leaving the group and moving on to new and exciting things...
  18. "Brothers of Eden - Corporate & Club Entertainment". Archived from the original on 23 April 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  19. Roche, Elisa (7 June 2010). "Britain's Got Talent winners Spelbound set to perform at 2012 Games". Daily Express . Retrieved 29 September 2012. Edward Upcott, 18, who has battled asthma, said: "I like the idea of flying over the royal box at the Royal Variety Performance."
  20. "Go Surrey - Edward Upcott". Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2012. From an early age Edward has suffered from asthma, as a baby he nearly died from his first asthma attack.
  21. "Alice Upcott profile". British Gymnastics . Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  22. An interview with the Upcotts. YouTube . Archived from the original on 10 December 2021.