Konnichiwa from Tokyo

Currently, I am in Tokyo for the World Championships. We arrived here early on the 1st October and have been hard at training in preparation for our competition on the 10th. Our hotel in Shinjuku is real nice with an awesome view of Tokyo and surrounding areas. Can’t forget to mention the famous Japanese toilets aka “Washlets”, with the spray and dry functions… interesting features. Click here to view photos.

We spend the first 5 days training in the Yoyogi National Stadium, which is a huge arena where they set up 4 training gyms on one giant podium. This time was used to get familiar with the different equipment and work skills and routines. With two sub-divisions training in the each gym at once, it can quickly become packed on the apparatus. It becomes hectic trying to get a lot of turns on each apparatus without spending too much time wait for your turn. So efficient training has been important.

(To view more photos from training, click here)

The 6th October was our podium training session, where we run through a mock competition. This is the only training session that we get in the competition venue prior the big day. And for those thinking it, podium training isn’t where we practice standing on the dice and waving. We began the session with a 1 ½ hour warm up in training gym behind the competition venue and then marched onto the competition floor. Each team got 17 minutes on each apparatus for all members to complete a warm up and routine. We started on Parallel Bars and smashed out all 6 apparatus in quick succession. We were all very pleased with our training session and hit a lot of very clean routines. This was only the practice run and the real competition is on the 10th October at 4:30pm Tokyo time.

(To view more photos from podium training, click here)

I have also been asked if the event will be televised and I am please to inform you that Fox Sports holds the Australian rights and will be televising different part of the competition over the coming week. Unfortunately, they have not given information on whom and what exactly they will be showing. According to their TV Guide, the following sessions will be on FoxSport 1 and FoxSport 1HD.

To check the FoxSports TV guide click here.