WA Trio Aiming for World Championship Selection

Published On: 18 September 2014

From L-R: Olivia Vivian, Lauren Mitchell and Emily Little are hoping to make the Australian team for the 2014 Gymnastics World Championships

WAIS gymnasts Olivia Vivian and Lauren Mitchell have qualified through to Gymnastics Australia’s final World Championship trial, along side a familiar face.

Whilst Vivian and Mitchell were away in Glasgow winning Commonwealth Games medals, former WAIS gymnast and 2012 London Olympian, Emily Little, was making a quiet return to the sport.

With the first of two trials held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra last week, Little travelled with her former Australian teammates and earned an invitation for the final selection trials which will determine the Australian squad for the World Championships to be held in Nanning, China from October 3-12.

After the 2012 London Olympics, Little took a break from elite gymnasts and dabbled her interests in acro-gymnastics and weights training at a local strength club.

Whilst she showed natural talent for both, it was the competitive twinge and the lure of the green and gold that drew her back to the gymnasium.

“I realized there was nothing I liked more than gymnastics and competing for my country,” said Little. “It was nice to take a couple years off, but now I’m motivated to become a better gymnast.”

Little will feel right at home as all three girls leave for the final trial next week which will take place on September 19th, once again at the AIS.

“It feels like I never left,” she said. “Being back in the gym has made me realize how much I’ve missed training with the girls and have a support group behind me,” she explained.

With Little currently preparing with the WAIS squad under a training agreement, she has said that she places no pressure or expectation on herself.

“I’m not expecting to make the worlds team, however I’m happy to be a part of the trials, it’s motivating me to get my skills back and upgrade.”

Teammate Olivia Vivian said that Little’s return was a welcome boost to the national program.

“It’s great having Em back in the gym and at training camps with us,” she said. “We’ve all missed her presence in the squad.”

“She has a cracking vault and the ability to produce consistent performances on other events, a trait very much needed on any world championship team.”