Reasons to be Cheerful

Ok, so we were all a bit down after the news of Dykes' departure. Well, the past 24 hours have brought some good tidings (though not particularly ones worthy of a choir and red pompom hat).

1. It was quite literally a matter of good timing. Last night in a fit of boredom I flicked onto the cable sports channel Fox Sports News. Which, to explain for any international readers, is...well, exactly what it says it is. A 24-hour sports news channel owned by the Foxtel (cable provider) network. Anyway, here endeth the extraneous information. I instantly had to chuck a video into the VCR as they began to talk about gymnastics (FSN as of late highlights football, cricket, rugby, cricket, cricket, golf, cricket, basketball, cricket)! It was a profile piece on the WAIS girls, namely Dasha and Lauren with some insight from their coach Martine George (who *really* deserves to take the reins from La Liddick for a day, she has a much better rapport with the athletes in my opinion). We saw them training on floor and beam respectively. Both were quite articulate in front of the camera, talking about their experiences at the Beijing Test Event, which they took back to share with their team-mates at training camp, and their expectations for the Games themselves. Dasha is rocking a cute little Betty-Boop style haircut and Lauren has braces (I feel your pain, little Loz!). Miss D talked about working with Adriana Pop, whom she liked very much, and thinks it must be reciprocated because "I can do my [floor] routine ... kinda okay!" with a modest laugh. Lauren did some acro skills on beam. No new ones, but she was sticking her punch front somi and two-footed-front-aerial-to-front-somi cold. Martine highlighted their World rankings and medal chances. We saw them also do a few tumbling drills on the tumbling strip and Dasha stood up a double layout. A DOUBLE LAYOUT, PEOPLE. How freaking awesome for her, hope she keeps working at it and puts it into her floor routine eventually. A couple of months ago we heard she was working on a whip-triple twist, so that's looking like some fantastic upgrading!

2. Sydney Olympics team member and 2002 Commonwealth Games medallist Alexandra Croak is looking to crack into the 'shadow' national diving squad from which the Beijing team will be named. Alex has already become the first ever Australian (male OR female) to medal at two consecutive Commonwealth Games in different sports (Gold with team and silver on vault in Manchester 2002; Silver with synchro partner Melissa Wu in Melbourne 2006). Good luck to them and all the divers this year.

Alex and Melissa: Synch or Swim in Beijing?

3. My tiny little blog is getting a tiny little following. *appwause* Thanks to people who have been giving me feedback, it is most helpful and above all: encouraging. You're the people I'm doing this for!

4. Melbourne got some rain today, albeit just a short shower! Two straight days of 40+ (celcius, up to 47 in parts of WA!) is just a leeetle bit exhausting.

Photos courtesy of Nade and Fairfax Media