Mitchell Leads Aussie Hopes at Gymnastics World Champs
Australia’s women’s gymnastics team has qualified for four of a possible six finals at the 2010 Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam (NED) over the weekend, continuing the form that won them nine medals, including four gold, at the Delhi Commonwealth Games.
The performance also ticks off the first challenge in the young Australian team’s London 2012 campaign ensuring them entry into the final Olympic qualification competition – the 2011 world championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Lead by 2009 world championship dual silver medallist and WAIS scholarship holder Lauren Mitchell, Australia qualified in sixth position for the team final – a competition reserved exclusively for the world’s top eight teams.
Mitchell, who won three individual gold medals in Delhi, also qualified for apparatus finals on the beam and floor and will be joined by Commonwealth Games all-round bronze medallist Georgia Bonora (VIC) in the coveted all-around final later this week.
Speaking after the qualification round, Mitchell was relaxed and confident the team could continue their impressive form into the finals.
“Overall I think the team did a really great job,” Mitchell said.
“We are a really tight knit bunch and competing in Delhi got us up on a podium and prepared us much earlier than normal.
“We have spent a week in training (here in Rotterdam) and we have been really looking forward to competing. I think we competed well here because we were so ready.”
Head coach Peggy Liddick was also pleased with the team’s ability to put their best foot forward on the world stage.
“Our worldsperformance was not a surprise to me, it was nice to see the girls perform to their potential, and perform how they do during training,” Liddick said.
“It was a nice team performance from theathletes and coaching team.”
The six-member team included a mix of experience and youth, with Mitchell and fellow Beijing Olympians Bonora and Ashleigh Brennan (VIC) leading 2009 world championships uneven bar finalist Larissa Miller (QLD), Commonwealth Games all-around silver medallist Emily Little (WA) and Delhi teammate Georgia Wheeler (VIC).
Competing in the fifth of twelve subdivisions yesterday, Australia had a steady start on their first apparatus, the vault, before Bonora and bars specialist Miller anchored the team’s performance with stuck landings on the uneven bars.
Making amends for their less than impressive six falls on the beam in Delhi, the team continued to build on the all-important total on their third rotation recording no falls before rounding off their strong competition on floor with a solid set of routines that placed them in the highly favoured company of traditional gymnastics powerhouses China and Romania.
All-conquering reigning world champions, the United States took to the floor overnight with an impressive line up that included 2008 Olympian Alica Sacramone and 2009 all-around gold and silver medallists Bridget Sloan and Rebecca Bross but surprisingly failed to outscore the Russian and Chinese teams who qualified in first and second position respectively.
In the all-around finals, Australian pair Mitchell (7th) and Bonora (17th) will share the floor with an impressive field of international gymnasts including 2010 title favourite and highest qualifier Aliya Mustafina (RUS), 2009 world all-around silver medallist Bross and United States teammate Alexandra Raisman who qualified in second and third positions respectively.
Later in the week Mitchell will cap off a hectic three weeks in the apparatus finals where she qualified fifth on both the beam and floor. The 19-year-old will be at home in the finals, having qualified and medalled on both apparatus at last year’s world championships.
– Gymnastics Australia