More History for Golden Girl Mitchell
The golden run of world champion Lauren Mitchell has continued unabated, with the WAIS-AIS scholarship holder winning gold on beam, floor and uneven bars in a commanding display at the DTB Pokal World Cup in Stuttgart, Germany.
The 19-year-old re-wrote the record books once again, becoming the first Australian gymnast to win three gold medals at a single World Cup event.
Mitchell, who also collected four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, created history last month by becoming the first Australian female gymnast to win a world title, claiming gold on floor in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Cementing her reputation as a force in world gymnastics, Mitchell dominated on floor (14.275), beam (15.325) and uneven bars (14.150) this morning, defeating high calibre opposition including Anna Dementyeva, a member of the triumphant Russian world champion team, in the process.
Click on the links to view her gold medal winning performances on beam and floor in Stuttgart.
Australian women’s head coach Peggy Liddick said she was delighted with her young charge’s performance in Stuttgart, proving that Mitchell’s gold medal at the world championships was no fluke.
“When she won floor tonight, I thought that’s fantastic she’s backed up her world championships performance,” Liddick said.
“That almost means as much as the world championships because it just proves that she’s not a one hit wonder, that she’s a consistent performer and she can go in three weeks later and back herself up.
“Her beam score of 15.375, which is a normal beam routine for her, would have been enough for a gold medal at the world championships. We were both were so disappointed with the scoring at worlds, we thought Lauren did a great job but she just didn’t get that score. So that just proves she is also a medal contender on beam.
“And the bars are not her best event and there was no pressure on her because we weren’t expecting her to medal.
“She’s had a bit of a sore shoulder and hasn’t done much training on bars, and we were even thinking about pulling her out to give that shoulder a rest. But she opted to stay in and she did the best bars routine she’s done all year.
“Last night was a success, not only because she won the medals, but it was a statement that she’s a true professional, that she loves her gymnastics and when she goes out she can back herself up.
“Keep that history book open, just love the achievements that we’re making at the moment.”
Only seven Australian gymnasts have won a gold medal at a World Cup series event – Lauren Mitchell (floor, beam, uneven bars – Stuttgart 2010, beam – Madrid 2008), Prashanth Sellathurai (pommel horse – Doha 2008), Daria Joura (floor – Stuttgart 2007), Phil Rizzo (high bar – Stuttgart 2001, Cottbus 2002, Glasgow 2005), Jacqui Dunn (uneven bars – Stuttgart 2001), Allana Slater (bars – Stuttgart 2000; floor – Cottbus 2002) and Hollie Dykes (beam – Stuttgart, 2006).
Following a brief training stint with the Romanian gymnastics team this week, Mitchell will journey to Glasgow to compete in the final world cup event of the year from November 18 to 21, followed by the renowned Toyota Cup in Japan from December 10 to 12.
– Gymnastics Australia