Big Effort from Little Gymnast
WAIS-AIS gymnast Emily Little competed in France over the weekend qualifying for the final of the vault, placing an encouraging fifth.
Competition Days
The competition venue was on full podium with big stadium screens, electronic scoring and spot lighting. On the both days of competition there was an estimated 12,000-15,000 spectators. All spectators were given some face-paint (in French flag colours) and coloured ‘clapping sticks’ which made the audience a great spectacle in itself and also very loud (especially when a French gymnast was on podium – the sound was deafening!).
As usual for many World Cup events, the gymnasts were not given a one touch warm-up on the podium immediately prior to competition. They warm-up in the back gym (not on a podium – so there is a different ‘feel’ to the apparatus), and then the gymnasts come straight out to compete in the competition arena. The competition order is drawn and the girls competed vault, bars, floor and beam (so only slightly out of Olympic order).
Vault
First up for Australia was Georgia and then Emily. Georgia hit a strong handspring pike (13.125) and followed up with a high Yurchenko layout (12.725). Emily performed a massive 2/1 Yurchenko (14.875) with a clean landing – probably her best ever (only 0.925 deducted on her E score!). Her second vault was a Handspring pike front which she sat down, but was clean in the air (12.25). This was a great start for both girls in their first World Cup event.
Bars
Larrissa was first up out of the girls and unfortunately had one fall (mid way through her stoop full) and then and extra swing after her gienger. The rest of the routine was very clean throughout (12.90). Georgia then followed with a solid routine, some form breaks in places and a bit short on the overshoot, but finished with a sky high double Arabian pike dismount (13.30) – and is placed as the 1st reserve.
Floor
The floor on podium was far ‘springier’ than the floor in the warm-up gym and both girls had a little trouble controlling landings. Emily was up first and had lots of bounce in her tumbles. Her full in was a little out of control (over-rotated) but the double Arabian was sky high and solid on landing. The dance was clean throughout (13.15). Georgia followed (11.70) with a powerful floor – lots of height on all her tumbles, but over-rotated the Arabian double and went out of bounds and fell, plus went out of bounds on the second pass. She finished strongly with a clean double pike.
Beam
Emily was up first again and did a very clean stable beam. I have judged her for many years and this would have to be the best beam I have ever seen her do – very stable and she attacked the beam with confidence (13.475). Georgia had two falls (side somi and back salto), but besides the falls was very clean in the rest of the routine. There had been a strong focus from the coaches on making her new dismount (double pike) which she landed well (11.50).
Vault finals
There was a long wait for the score of the previous competitor, but Emily looked calm as she waited on podium. The 2/1 Yurchenko was a little short on landing but good in air and unfortunately she had the same mistake in the front pike and sat this down. She finished 5th in the final.
Overall some solid performances from the girls and definitely a learning curve and good experience. The standard of competition was high with several World and Olympic medallist and of course the huge number of screaming spectators – definitely something the girls do not experience in Australia!
Report courtesy of Australian judge – Desiree Jones and Gymnastics Australia