How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Underdogs

Or, "How to Drown Out the Graphic Imagery from Olivia Vivian's latest blog".

Or, more precisely, "Kicking It Old School....Again!"

As Australia's new generation prepares for the Beijing, I found myself cruising YouTube (again in lieu of doing uni work) and came across a few more gems.

AusGymVids posted this little insight into international coaches at the WAIS as the Russian dynasty moved in and Ju Ping Tian's run as WAG head coach was going strong. I was struck by images I'd not seen before, of the Aussie team revelling in success at the World Championships and Olympics of the early 1990's. They were lovely, really, so I found myself compelled to find more footage of the Aussie WAG program in its heydey. Well, below are some bits and bobs, if you can overlook the occasionally biting Welsh commentator ("hefty thighs", well, really!) and the squeaky uneven bars. It seems our 6th placing really stuck it to the competitors, the judges and the crowd. You get a vibe from the commentatress that, "they don't belong here, everybody thinks so", but we really showed the world!



The girls rotate bars and beam at the '91 Worlds here (team optionals). Kylie Shadbolt is so proud of herself, look at that grin!
And here are Julie Anne Monico and Joanna Hughes completing the competition on vault. Watch how jubilant they all are at the very end (including our teeny tiny cheer squad)! *sniffle* Is that Liz C going crazy with the camera!? Awwwwwww....

And just for fun, here's Monique Allen in the '92 Olympics All-Around. A lovely effort (but the less said about the leotard, the better).

What a tremendous legacy. Let's hope the Beijing team can put in a great competition and surprise the world again!