Competition Day

After 3 weeks of team preparation at the Institute of Sport in Canberra and a week for training in Japan, the 10th October, competition day, finally arrived. As mentioned in my last blog, the team and I had a great preparation and podium training four days out from the competition was very positive. As the nerves and excitement built before the competition, I was simply focused on doing my job and completing my routines to best fulfill my role in the team.

We started the competition on parallel bars and I nailed one of my best routines ever. Next, horizontal bar and floor both went well with steps on dismounts being the only errors. I managed to wrangle my way through a pommel horse routine with a leg separation being my major deduction. Rings went according to plan and I muscled my way through. We finished the competition on Vault, where I landed with no real issue.

Personally, I had a good competition and as a team we had a great round with only one fall out of 30 routines performed. Unfortunately, the scores didn’t reflect our performance which left everyone disappointed. Our aim of placing in the top 16 was out of reach and the team ended up placing 18th meaning that an Australian team can no longer gain selection into the Olympic Games. This means Australia is able to sent two all around gymnasts to the Olympic Test Event in January, where they will trial as individuals with a maximum of one possibly gain selection into the games. The two gymnasts will be named following selection trial later in the year.

I was the highest placing Australian in the all around event finishing in 38th position. I also top scored floor exercise and parallel bars out of the Australians.