Mitchell Returns To International Competition

WAIS gymnast Lauren Mitchell has returned to international action for the first time since winning gold on beam at the World Cup Final in December, leading the Australian team at the inaugural Japan Cup.

Mitchell left for Chiba, Japan following her gold medal winning spree at the Australian Championships and finished with a fourth place in the teams competition and a fifth place in the individual all-around final.

It was a solid return to the international arena for the Beijing Olympian, who also turned 18 last week, following an injury layoff for the first part of 2009.

The 18-year old’s standout performance was on the floor, recording the second highest score of the competition with a 14.450 whilst she also posted a good 14.100 on the vault. Bars and the beam were her weakest two apparatus in the competition, scoring 13.900 and 13.850 respectively.

Her solid form in Japan and at the nationals bodes well for the rest of 2009, with the World Championships (in an individual only format) to be held in London in October.