Winners will be grinners, and the girls from Yass Gymnastics certainly were after the 2018 NSW Country Championships in Newcastle. Together, they brought home a raft of 15 medals, while eight of the girls and the team gym of nine also qualified for State Championships.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 19 girls in total, aged nine to 25, competed across five days from Thursday to Monday, 12-15 July, against 1,500 other athletes from the state.
Friday witnessed level three and four gymnasts compete in beam, bolt and bars. Four silver and two bronze medals were given to the level three girls and one gold, three silver and four bronze to the level four girls, impressing judges with their balancing, aerobatic moves and strength.
After a quick break over the weekend, the team gym group returned ready to take on tumbling, trampoline and floor work, and successfully came away with silver.
Ahead of the Country Championships, the girls have been practising for around four to eight hours per week, according to Yass Gymnastics teacher and owner Michelle Vitler. Those who qualified will now prepare for the State Championships in October, while the others still have the chance to make it into the big event at upcoming country competitions.
Ms. Vitler said she was really proud of all the girls, including level 5 who competed on Thursday despite one attending injured and the other injuring herself during the competition. Ms. Vitler said both girls were great for giving it a go.
She added, “It’s a great experience for the girls to get out there. Because we are a small club, it’s nice to get to these kinds of competitions and see where we’re at in regards to our skills and against other clubs.
“It’s also a great opportunity to network and find out about the competitions happening in other areas that we can compete in. It’s a great little gymnastics community.”
