WAIS Gymnasts Selected for International Competition
Five members of the WA Institute of Sport Gymnastics Program have earned representative selection for International competition after a successful national training camp at Canberra’s Australian Institute of Sport.
Selection trials were held in both junior and senior levels at last week’s AIS camp, with WAIS scholarship holders impressing in both age ranks.
Junior athletes Aya Meggs, Darcy Norman and Yasmin Collier were all chosen to represent Australia at the Nadia Comaneci International Invitational, which will be held in Oklahoma, USA from February 21-23.
The same trio will then compete in the VII Trofeo Cita’ di Jesolo Invitational in Venice, Italy from the 22nd-23rd of March.
The competitions will provide invaluable developmental experience for the young athletes which WAIS coach Nikolai Lapchine suggested would create strong learning opportunities for the emerging group.
“It will be good experience for these girls to compete against some of the best gymnasts in the world,” he said. “They performed the way they have been training in the gym with hopefully a few upgrades to be added before they travel overseas.”
Senior gymnasts Olivia Vivian and Lauren Mitchell were also selected to compete at the FIG Gymnastics World Challenge Cup Doha, Qatar from the March 26-28.
With both gymnasts having returned from injury layoffs, WAIS head coach Martine George said the pair are right on track for their first international hit-outs of the year.
“Both Lauren and Olivia showed great improvements and difficulty upgrades in their routines which were evident in their results at trials,” said George. “They’ve worked hard on their rehab and strength programs in order to get competition ready again.”
“It’s always a treat for the juniors to have role models such as Olivia and Lauren at camps as they consistently set a good example and share their knowledge and experience with their fellow Australian team-mates.”