Local athletes star at Australian Gymnastics Championships

THE YMCA Geelong Gymnastics Club recently triumphed at the Australian Gymnastics Championships on the Gold Coast.

The championships brought together the best gymnasts in the country as they took to the floor between May 10 and May 22.

At just 13 years of age, Olivia Meaney was on a winning streak, taking out first place in the bars and floor competitions, third place on the beam and first place in the Future International All Around in the under 14’s Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG).

 

Ms Meaney said she was excited to represent Victoria at the championships and have two days of competition.

“I was really happy to be out there with my Victorian Teammates,” she said.

“My Uneven Bars routine, I was rapt to execute it well and stick my double back tuck landing.”

“Being consistent over two days and getting a personal best score over 51 and being and Australian Champions was pretty cool.”

Ms Meaney hopes to progress to a Junior International Level and continue to train hard as she aims for international tours.

 

Asher Bayles also found success at the competition, she has been involved in gymnastics since she was three and now at 17 is a Senior International Athlete.

At the Australian Championships, she was part of the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) team that took home the gold medal.

Her performance on the Gold Coast will see her take part in a Paris camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in the final selection for the Olympic Team.

 

 

“It’s a surreal feeling to be competing next to the gymnasts that I grew up wanting to be like, and now I’m competing against them,” she said.

“I knew I wanted to represent Australia, but I certainly didn’t think I would get to compete against people that I idealise in the sport.”

YMCA Geelong Gymnastics Club head of International WAG and coach, Rhian Jamieson said watching the athletes perform at such high levels of competition is amazing.

“There is so much hard work day in day out that when they get success the feeling of accomplishment is so rewarding for all involved.

“There are so many little successes along the way too, not just getting a podium finish but overcoming a fear, completing a new skill, hitting a score or routine or having a great comp experience when they used to get nervous, they’re all worth celebrating.”

A number of other Geelong athletes also competed at the event taking home medals including Mitchell Hornsby and Isabelle McDermott.

For more information and the full lists of results, head to ausgymnasticschamps.com.au