Murray Selected for London Olympics

Western Australian Institute of Sport Rhythmic gymnast Janine Murray has today been officially selected by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Murray along with men’s artistic gymnast Josh Jefferis were the first two athletes confirmed on the Australian Gymnastics Team, with the women’s artistic and trampoline squads to be announced later this month.

Originally from Zimbabwe, 22 year-old Murray and her coach moved to Western Australia and the pair have been working tirelessly for Olympic selection for years.

“I’m very, very excited,” Murray said of her selection to the 2012 Team. “At first I was a bit nervous – I jumped straight into the idea of competing but now I’m really enjoying the whole process of being involved in the Olympic Team and the privilege of representing Australia at the world’s biggest event.”

Murray recently took out all five gold medals on offer at the 2012 Australian Gymnastics Championships, cementing her position on the Team after she secured Australia the spot at last year’s World Championships

“I’m really happy with how things are going and confident in my preparation at the moment,” Murray said after some strong international results including three medals at the Pacific Rim Championships in Seattle.

Murray favours the ribbon of the four Olympic apparatus which in London will also include the hoop, ball and clubs. She hopes to dazzle the crowd and the judges with a new signature move she has been working on.

“I do a progressive pivot which is a pivot which starts from the floor to standing and I normally do it to a simpler skill afterwards but we’ve changed it to an ‘attitude’…it’s a really high value skill and I haven’t seen anyone else perform it.”

The Rhythmic gymnastics will take place at London’s famous Wembley Arena from 13 – 16 August 2012.

Murray’s selection brings the number of WA athletes on the Australian Olympic Team for London to 13.