Gemma Lightbourne will be the Island’s only gymnast at the Commonwealth Games after the Bermuda Olympic Association’s decision to raise the qualifying bar, The Royal Gazette understands.

Gabby Vincent, Zantae Dill and Sydney Mason had initially been under the impression that they would be competing in Glasgow, having met the BOA’s original qualifying standard, which had been recommended by the Bermuda Gymnastics Association.

That recommendation, it is believed, was then later increased by the BOA by five points to set a revised standard that Vincent, Dill and Mason fell short of reaching. It is not known whether Morgan Beckles, the Bermuda captain, who attends the State University of New York College at Cortland, had also been attempting to qualify.

Vincent, who won bronze in the uneven parallel bars at the NatWest Island Games in Bermuda last summer, is thought to have been the closest to meeting the amended qualifying mark.

Philip Guishard, the BOA secretary-general, confirmed that the artistic gymnasts had not qualified for the Games, which run from July 23 to August 3. However, Lightbourne, a rhythmic gymnast, has done more than enough to have a crack among the Commonwealth elite.

“I would say at this point that they [the locally based artistic gymnasts] did not meet the qualifying standard that we set,” Guishard said last week. “That doesn’t of itself necessarily say they will be or won’t be going [to Glasgow].”

Lightbourne will be in familiar territory when she competes in Glasgow at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre Precinct, having lived in Scotland for several years during which time she was part of the national programme.

The 17-year-old Saltus Grammar School student, who will travel to Glasgow with Amanda Baughman, the Bermuda assistant coach, claimed four golds in the rhythmic competition at the USAIGC International Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, last summer.

Rhythmic gymnasts compete with the ribbon, ball, hoop, clubs and rope. Tim Miller, the BGA president, declined to comment when approached to confirm the make-up of the Bermuda team, but all will be known by 7pm today when the BOA announces the full Commonwealth Games squad. About 30 athletes are expected to selected.