WAIS Gymnasts Face Final Selection Camp in Canberra

Following the Australian Gymnastics Championships held in Sydney recently, three WAIS gymnasts have been invited to Canberra for the Olympic selection camp that will decide the five athletes who compete for Australia in London.

World Champion Lauren Mitchell headlines the triumvirate, alongside Commonwealth Games gold medallist Emily Little, whilst 2008 Beijing Olympian Olivia Vivian has made a late charge for selection returning home after spending the past four years in the US on a college scholarship.

National Coach Peggy Liddick, saysthe group comprises of finalists who provide a good mix of ability both in All-Around competition and individual apparatus.

“Each of the athletes presents different strengths that we’ll be monitoring to determine the final team of five. Our main aim is to maintain sixth place achieved at the last Olympics as well as underpinning our chances to support individual athletes to achieve podium finishes,” Liddick commented.

Despite the quality of the 12 gymnasts at the selection camp, there was disappointment for WAIS gymnast Nikki Chung, who was removed from selection calculations after she sustained an injury to her deltoid ligament in theankle andatorn ACL in herkneeduring warm-ups of the first day of the Australian Gymnastics Championships.

In determining the final 12 athletes, Gymnastics Australia’s nomination committee considered performances from last week’s Australian Gymnastics Championships as well as performances in training and past international competitions including the 2011 World Championships.

The following athletes have been selected for the camp (in alphabetical order):

1.Georgia Bonora (VIC)

2.Ashleigh Brennan (VIC)

3.Georgia-Rose Brown (VIC)

4.Angela Donald (VIC)

5.Daria Joura (QLD)

6.Emily Little (WAIS)

7.Larrissa Miller (QLD)

8.Lauren Mitchell (WAIS)

9.Mary-Ann Monckton (VIC)

10.Chloe Sims (QLD)

11.Olivia Vivian (WAIS)

12.Georgia Wheeler (VIC)