WAIS Gymnast Lauren Mitchell Wins World Championship Crown

WAIS-AIS gymnast Lauren Mitchell has created history by becoming the first Australian female gymnast to win a world title, claiming gold on floor at the 2010 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands this morning.

Mitchell, who won four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, was the final gymnast to perform on the floor and finished the event with the routine of her life scoring 14.833.

The 19-year-old fended off strong performances from newly crowned all-around champion Aliya Mustafina (RUS) and Diana Chelaru (ROU) who tied for the silver medal with a score of 14.766.

Tonight’s performance on the floor has seen Mitchell eclipse her two silver medals (on beam and floor) from the 2009 world titles to now hold a special place in the history of Australian gymnastics.

Post event, Mitchell was stunned by her victory and the realisation of what she had achieved.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” said Mitchell of her history-making efforts, “I guess it’s kind of cool to be the first to do these things, but someone has to be, so luckily it was me, it’s amazing!”

As the final competitor in the floor final and the last female competitor of the event, Mitchell was not phased by the gymnasts who competed before her.

“I quite like being last. I didn’t really warm up at all before we marched out. After being presented, I ran back out to the training gym and started warming up.When I came out I only had to wait for two other girls to compete, then I just got out there and did my floor routine.

“I really need to think of a new word other than amazing, no it’s fantastic! Coming from the beginning of the year and not competing at any events until the Commonwealth Games, it is a fantastic feeling.”

For Australia coach Peggy Liddick, who also coached American Shannon Miller to a world title in 1994, the medal is in the hands of the right gymnast.

“She (Mitchell) is a lovely gymnast to work with and a great person – there is no one more deserving.”

Earlier in the evening, Mitchell was unlucky not to medal on the beam finishing in fourth place with a score of 15.200. The gold medal was won by Ana Porgras (ROM) with 15.366. A tie decided the silver medal between Rebecca Bross (USA) and LinLin Deng (CHN) with a score of 15.233.

Mitchell has demonstrated a brilliant return to form this month after battling a frustrating run of injuries over the last year including a broken hand, sprained ankle and an adductor strain, forcing her out of competition for nearly 12 months.

Her first competition back from injury produced an impressive four gold and a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, declaring to the world that she was back to the top of her game.

Mitchell’s gold medal caps off an encouraging and successful world championships campaign for Australian gymnastics – a bronze medal to Prashanth Sellathurai on pommel horse, two top 15 finishers in the women’s individual all-around (Mitchell – sixth, Georgia Bonora – 14th), fourth place for Mitchell on beam and both women’s (sixth) and men’s (18th) teams qualified for next year’s world championships in Tokyo – the major qualifying event for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Mitchell’s gold brings Australia’s overall world championships medal tally to ten – two gold, four silver and four bronze. Out of the ten medals, both Mitchell and Sellathurai dominate the table having claimed three medals each.