Lauren Mitchell In Contention for Medals at World Champs
WAIS gymnast Lauren Mitchell has produced an outstanding effort at the 41st Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in London to qualify herself in three finals.
The 18 year-old will feature in Friday’s all-around final before featuring in the floor and beam apparatus finals on Sunday. Mitchell is also the first Australian gymnast to qualify in the top three for the all-around at a world championships.
An ecstatic Mitchell said she was pleased her hard work and determination was paying off.
“This is the best result I’ve had at a World Championships, I’ve worked hard since the Olympics, on my vault and bars to become a true all-rounder and it’s paid off for me tonight. I hope I can repeat this in the finals,” she said after qualification.
Mitchell will head into tomorrow’s all-around final with confidence, after she qualified third with a combined score of 56.675 across the four apparatus. American Rebecca Bross was the top qualifier with 57.400, slightly ahead of Romanian Ana Porgras with 57.300.
There had been some controversy following Mitchell’s beam attempt, with Australian Head Coach Peggy Liddick lodging a successful protest to raise Mitchell’s score up to 14.400 after she had initially been incorrectly awarded a score of 14.200.
Mitchell qualified fifth in both floor and beam apparatus finals and will fly the Australian flag along with world championships debutant Larrissa Miller who will compete in the uneven bars final.
Liddick was understandably delighted with both women’s performances.
“Both athletes have trained extremely hard and their work paid off tonight. Its now up to the girls to convert these opportunities,” she said.
Foxsports will be broadcasting finals live, check schedule for times.