Gymnast strikes perfect balance

NINETEEN-year-old aerobic gymnast Lucy Membrey said she’s grateful to receive the Bendigo Sports Star scholarship award for July.

She also said while it highlights her personal achievements, she is happy to see her sport getting attention.

“It’s very exciting, it’s kind of cool because I do aerobic gymnastics which obviously isn’t that well known so it’s nice to get a bit of recognition from people outside the sport,” she said.

Membrey competed at the Australia Gymnastic Championships in May, finishing second in the trio event and placing fifth in the senior individual category, with personal best performances in both.

“That was my first year in the senior international category so I had no expectations for myself, just to go out on the floor and do a routine that I was happy with and proud of,” she said.

Membrey trains with fellow aerobic gymnast Ruby Conti, who placed first in the age group two individual category and won the Bendigo Sports Star Award in May.

While training three times a week, Membrey also juggles work and studying psychology at university.

“You can’t do it if you don’t want to do it, sometimes it’s a battle but it makes me stay organised and on top of myself,” she said.

“In the car I’ll do zoom lectures on the way down to Melbourne because Ruby’s mum takes me and her, which is good. I’ll do uni lectures in the car, write notes in the car, I make it work.”

Membrey said she is “very grateful” to have the support of the Bendigo Sports Star Award committee.