Bex, Bexta, Beck, Becky, The Double Downies [a reference to Rebecca and her sister Elissa, who has also represented Great Britain in artistic gymnastics]. (Instagram profile, 04 Oct 2018; theguardian.com, 25 Apr 2015; NOC, 31 Jul 2008)

Athlete

English

Amber Valley Gymnastics: England

Her younger sister Elissa Downie has represented Great Britain in artistic gymnastics, winning gold in the individual all-around at the 2017 European Championships in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. (SportsDeskOnline, 27 Sep 2021; intlgymnast.com, 02 Aug 2017; beckydownie.com, 15 May 2012)

She sustained a ruptured Achilles tendon in June 2022 and was out of competition until March 2023. (bbc.com, 07 Apr 2023)

She underwent ankle surgery in November 2018. (bbc.co.uk, 14 Nov 2018)

In August 2018 she sustained an injury in training during a dismount from the beam. The problem meant she missed the 2018 European Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. (british-gymnastics.org, 01 Aug 2018; bbc.co.uk, 01 Aug 2018)

In April 2017 she tore the cruciate ligament in her elbow and was unable to compete for more than 12 months. (nottinghampost.com, 23 Mar 2018)

She was unable to vault in competition for two years between March 2012 and March 2014 due to a recurring foot injury. (nottinghampost.com, 17 Mar 2014)

In 2011 she suffered an Achilles tendon injury while training. (fulltwist.net, 29 Jan 2011)

She missed about three months with a stress fracture to her back earlier in her career. (NOC, 31 Jul 2008)

She took up the sport at age seven at the Bigwood Gymnastics Club in England.

"Before gymnastics I studied ballet, tap and stage dance. The dancing didn't really work out for me so I decided to try gymnastics as a school friend did it."

She was a member of the first British female artistic gymnastics team to win a medal in the team event at the world championships, claiming bronze at the 2015 edition of the tournament in Glasgow, Scotland. (SportsDeskOnline, 27 Sep 2021; doubledownies.com, 20 Jul 2017)

To compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. She also wants to open her own gym with her sister Elissa. (thisismoney.co.uk, 14 May 2023; bbc.com, 07 Apr 2023)

Russian artistic gymnast Aliya Mustafina. (gymandnews.com, 08 Sep 2016)

"Sometimes being great isn't enough, you've got to be more than great. Growing up I didn't have an idol. I just loved my sport and wanted to be the best I could." [Serena Williams] (Twitter profile, 25 Apr 2020)

In 2015 she was named Sportswoman of the Year at the British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards in London, England. (nottinghampost.com, 23 Mar 2018)

She was named the 2006 Junior Sportswoman of the Year by BBC East Midlands. (BBC, 07 May 2008; beckydownie.com, 29 Jan 2008)

COMEBACK FROM INJURY
She won gold on uneven bars at the 2023 British Championships in Liverpool, England, upon her return from an Achilles tendon injury suffered in 2022. "I actually saw the injury as a game-changer for my career. Normally, an injury like that is career-ending but the team really trusted me. I've done enough training with injuries over the years to know what to do. I still love what I do, and I just felt I had so much more to give which is why I chose to stay in the sport [after the injury]. It was a big decision. But being British champion on bars has given me a lot of confidence going forward, and it's important for me to get back on the international stage, back in the team environment and I want to make sure I enjoy it. I have a lot more to offer." (bbc.com, 07 Apr 2023; british-gymnastics.org, 26 Mar 2023)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
She has served as an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation. "Two years ago [2021], I lost my brother Josh who was 24 and had an undiagnosed heart condition. It's still very hard for me to get my head around what happened to him. Since then, I have had the massive honour to be asked to work with the British Heart Foundation as an ambassador. It's incredible for me to see the work the charity does every day to support families and to fund new cardiovascular research." She also co-founded a line of leotards and has run gymnastics experience days with her sister and fellow gymnast Elissa Downie. "I've always loved fashion and design. The leotards stuff is so much fun." (thisismoney.co.uk, 14 May 2023; Instagram team profile, 13 May 2023; nottinghampost.com, 23 Mar 2018)

RECORD BREAKER
In October 2017 she set a world record for the most aerial cartwheels performed on a balance beam in one minute. She completed 17 cartwheels in Nottingham, England, while being filmed for a British children's television show called 'Officially Amazing'. (Twitter profile, 27 Apr 2018)