Mitchell Makes Strong Olympic Impression

WAIS-AIS gymnast Lauren Mitchell has claimed two national titles at the 2012 Australian Gymnastics Championships in Sydney, to put herself firmly in the frame for Olympic selection.

With the Championships forming the first part of the Olympic selection process, Mitchell was peerless in winning national championship titles on both Beam and Floor apparatus finals.

Mitchell a world championship silver medallist on Beam, scored a world class 15.400 in the senior final, receiving no penalties as she underlined her class. The 21 year-old was equally impressive on Floor, scoring 15.000 to win a second gold medal in the event she won a world title in, in 2012.

Fellow WAIS scholarship holder Emily Little did her Olympic chances no harm either, winning three medals across the competition, claiming silver in the All-Around (113.300), Vault (14.775) and Floor (14.225) finals.

The 2012 Championships will also be remembered for the year of the return, with 2008 Beijing Olympians, Olivia Vivian and Dasha Joura claiming national titles on the Un-even Bars and Vault respectively.

Vivian – a WAIS scholarship holder – had only returned to Perth some two weeks ago following a four year College stint in Oregon, USA where she had been studying on a gymnastics scholarship.

She showed the crowd she had lost none of her competition prowess, delivering a stunning routine on bars (14.500) to win the national title, and gave national coach Peggy Liddick much to consider ahead of the up-coming Olympic selection camp in Canberra during June.

Former WAIS scholarship holder Dasha Joura, has similarly made a late challenge for Olympic representation, and won the Vault (14.875) final with a fine execution of the double Yurchenko twist.

There was disappointment for another WAIS gymnast pushing for Olympic selection, with Nikki Chung injuring her ankle and missing the national championships. Chung however, will receive injury exemption, and will get her opportunity to impress selectors at the Canberra training camp, with the year 12 PLC student still well and truly in contention for the five member women’s artistic team in London.

WAIS athletes won three of the four senior international apparatus finals on offer, signalling a ringing endorsement of the work carried out by the WAIS senior coaching pair of Martine George and Nikolai Lapchine.

There were highly encouraging results in the underpinning levels for WAIS at the 2012 Australian Gymnastics Championships with numerous athletes coming away with medals in their respective age groups.

IDP Level 10: Gillian Chan put in a strong performance – competing an upgraded Floor programme and being one of very few IDP 10’s to compete a high to low Bar flight element. Franceska Fusha won the IDP Level 10 All-Around National Champion title, whilst also placing first on Floor and second on Vault.

IDP Level 8:The IDP Level 8 team of Brooke Callcott, Maddy Clark-Carlile, Yasmin Collier, Nikita Hains, Paige James and Darcy Norman won the team Gold medal. Individually, Callcott placed second All-Around, first on Beam and second on Bars. Clark-Carlile took out the silver medal on Vault, whilst James won the National Championship All-Around title as well as placing first on Floor and third on both Bars and Beam. Norman claimed the gold medal on Bars.

IDP Level 6:The IDP Level 6 team of Cerys Bell-Bedlow (Swan District), Lily Gresele, Anna Mackay and Sarah Stacey won the team Bronze medal.