Young gymnast on path to success – Bendigo Sports Star Award

FIFTEEN-year-old Ruby Conti is delighted to win the Bendigo Sports Star award for May.

After winning her class at the Victorian gymnastic championships, Conti then took gold in the 15-17-year-old International Age Group 2 at the National Championships on the Gold Coast.

The rising elite gymnast said being recognised with a Sports Star award was “really special.”

“I was really grateful to receive it. It meant a lot to be recognised by the local community for my gymnastic achievements,” she said.

Not only has Conti been recognised locally, she was also named the as the Aerobic Gymnastic Age Group International Athlete of the Year by Gymnastics by Gymnastics Australia.

Conti’s been training since she was six, and in her young career has already travelled the world and was due to compete at her first world championships in Azerbaijan last year, cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

She said while the jump to national championships from state was noticeable, her hard work paid off.

“It was a really amazing experience, and I wasn’t really expecting it either which made it even more great,” she said.

“I had to work really hard to work up that level, and there was definitely a big difference from my last section to this one as there was also older people with more experience.

Conti trains four times a week in Melbourne at Advantage Gym Sports, while also practicing locally at Palmers Gym, D-Club Fitness and Leonie’s Academy of Dance.

“I love all the experiences, all the friendships I’ve made. For most 15-year-olds, people don’t get to travel the world for their sport which I’m really grateful for,” she said.