Thursday, August 20, 2009

2009 WAG Worlds Team!

There's no "I" in "team" but there IS one on the bank of the Thames for the following girls to ride over and over in celebration of their selection to the 2009 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM:

Georgia Bonora!
Lauren Mitchell!
Shona Morgan!
Larrissa Miller!


Peggy Liddick (head coach), John Hart, Nikolai Lapchine and Sasha Belooussov are the travelling coaches.


A secondary 'shadow' group will be taken along to watch the event and compete in smaller competitions in London and Paris, as reported earlier this year. This comprises Britt Greeley, Emma Dennis, Emma Collister, Emily Little and Fiona Coley

I shall hereafter dub them Team BEEEF.
A full press release is available at GA. Congratulations to all the gymnasts who have been given a fantastic opportunity that they will remember for a lifetime!

70 comments:

Anonymous said...

Any chance that Emma is not 100% Fit?

Anonymous said...

Emma got passed over again?
What's going on? I don't understand why and l hope that someone in the know will be able to explain why and exactly how the teams are chosen.

nade00 said...

Well even if Emma is not 100% fit she managed to beat Shona in the AA by 3+ points so it's a moot point really. If anything Shona hasn't proven herself to be in competition shape and thus she should have been left off going by that logic. I know you can say experience and all that but if she isn't in shape experience isn't gonna help her.

Anonymous said...

Unless we have the score break down from trial's we're never going to really know what the thinking was behind the decision. Shona could've had numerous falls and still have been close to an in the zone Emma. I assume that the 3 point difference was over the 2 days. Which would be 1.5 each day.

Still it does seem that Emma just isn't like by GA. Poor thing. The decision to include Larissa is a little odd but apparently she has a 5.8 D score. UB will be the most competitive event at worlds and even with her D score I doubt she'll make the final. Seems like a wasted oppurtunity to give Emma some big time experience for Comm Games...assuming she's not left of the team for that and every other international competition between now and then.

nade00 said...

It wouldn't surprise me if Emma said screw this and retired now. What's the point if she never gets a fair go. A 5.8 d-score is nothing amazing. Even the Romanians are better than that on bars right now. Larrissa will be great for team meets since she's not half bad on the other events but not for a specialist worlds.

Anonymous said...

All we really know over about the trial is that Lauren came 1st, Georgia 2nd, Emma 3rd, Shona 4th, Brit 5th, Fiona 6th. On the apparatus that Larissa did (I am assuming she did not do all around) what were her scores - maybe the apparatus she competed were significantly higher than Emma - it's a bit unfair to Larissa
when we don't know the full details

nade00 said...

It's not that difficult to understand. Larissa did UB for 14.1 day 1 and 14.4 day 2. She is on the team for that event.

This is nothing against Larissa personally, I certainly admire the way she has polished and become more consistent this year. It is against the GA people who don't seem to be able to gauge the strength of the overseas competition, and who choose unfit/unprepared athletes over those who are more ready.

I think in future they should select a squad of 5 and designate the reserve at the last minute going by who is most ready.

Anonymous said...

To Anonymous at 4.07
How is it being unfair to Larissa by asking a simple question? That's no-ones intention on here l'm sure however it does seem odd that Emma has missed out yet again on what we know so far.
I hope she holds her head up and keeps trying for that break through.

Anonymous said...

Valaid point Nade in naming a 5 member squad. That could only benefit the whole team.

Anonymous said...

to 4.17 from 4.07 - my point is that we don't really know what the girls did for those non AA spots - all we have is peoples speculation.

nade00 said...

I am curious to see what they will do with the 2nd AA spot - Apparently Georgia was about 5 points ahead of Shona so I don't know how you can bump her off. But then what is Shona going to do for the team? Only BB/FX are left for her since she she doesn't have 2 vaults and Larrissa will do bars. But what's the point in taking her for those events? She's good and solid, but won't make EF. She is going to run into trouble getting credit for some of her new skills on beam, especially the switch ring and switch half. My only theory is that they want to encourage Larrissa so she will stick around and become the teams bar worker (boy will we need them in future), and that Shona got through on reputation.

I am wondering if maybe Emma didn't show a 2nd vault since there is no other way to explain them going for an UB specialist over a vaulting specialist. The field is so weak that people will just about make the VT finals with a y1.5 and front pike half this year.

Anonymous said...

Even if she's slightly out of form now it was always clear that Shona and Lauren were going to be on the team. With Georgia finishing second at trials and winning beam on day 1 she earned her way onto the team.

The Emma situation is reminiscent of the Beijing omission. I eventually accepted that Olivia's bars would most likely help the team more than Emma's vault as those were the only events they were going to contribute on, but this year's worlds isn't a team event. If Peggy wanted an event specialist she should've gone with Emma. While I haven't seen the routines from trails I do know that vault would be the easiest EF to qualify for. Most countries are only sending one gymnast with 2 vaults. On the strength of her DTY I think Emma could've just snuck into finals with a decent second vault. Larissa will not be making UB finals with a 14.4.

Didn't Shona do 2 vaults at nationals? Maybe her and Georgia are both doing 2 vaults now and Peggy feels that we're well enough represented in that event and the deciding factor was that Shona and Georgia are better prospects on the other events. All 3 of them train at the same gym, is it so out of line to think that they could all be training a second vault?

Anonymous said...

OK, my anonymous source at Waverley feels that the selectors have got it right. Emma was not able to produce the two vaults required. Her training was hampered by that foot injury for which she is now all clear. She is completely OK with the decision. Larissa produced 2 beautiful bar routines at trial and will be a valuable member of the team.

Anonymous said...

Shona did do 2 vaults at nationals, but she has been struggling to get back her Y1.5 (which was also done generally with big deductions for bent legs) so I don't know how she could be considered a realistic VT EF prospect. Her other vault was a low valued yurchenko half on, front tuck half off.

Anonymous said...

does anyone feel a little sad for Brit Greely? I know she doesn't have much difficulty yet, but she has been given lots of assignments and medalled at nationals, I guess she was probably hoping for a bit more than 2nd last at the selection trials.

nade00 said...

anon@ 4.38

Thanks for your post, it really explains things a bit better. I am pleased to hear Emma is not too disheartened and I hope she can get 2 great VTs and be CWG VT champ next year!

Anonymous said...

'Supporting the world championship team, Gymnastics Australia has also selected a ‘side tour’ team who will travel at the same time to compete in invitational events in London and Paris.

With the aim of long term development for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and world championships five gymnasts, including four from the VIS, have been selected including Emma Dennis, Britt Greeley, Fiona Coley, Emma Collister and Emily Little (WAIS).'

an odd bunch for the shadow squad. i would have probably guessed something along the lines of Amber, Zoe, Brit, Emma D, Emma C and Emily.
Fiona is an odd choice for a development squad, she is nearly 20i think and likely won't make a big team any time in the future. It seems a shame one of the up and comers couldn't go.

Anonymous said...

don't forget the zoe, amber and mary-anne are all coming back from injuries and this tour is for competitions. so there's no point picking them. The only other juniors that would have had a chance are Georgia Brown and Georgia wheeler.

Mez said...

I am told Emma is very happy to be going on the international tour.

That's great to hear, I was worried she would be discouraged.

Anonymous said...

Good for Emma,
Worlds is a fantastic oppertunity, but since she is coming off an injury it would be nice if she could rise up to being the stand out gymnast at a smaller competition.

Anonymous said...

Lets hope Emma stays injury free and can continue on to Commonwealth Games, perform like a super star and stick around for the next Olympics too! She's a great girl and deserves every success!

Anonymous said...

Anon at 4 pm, Larrissa's DV on bars is 6.1, not 5.8. Rumour has it she's working on a 6.4 routine. From what I've heard, none of the other bar routines shown in Canberra exceeded a 5.6 DV. In other words, Larrissa has by far the most difficult bar routine in Australia. She also has great lines and stunning form on nearly everything she does, so I think that spot on the squad is well deserved.

Nade00, I wouldn't be too worried about Australia's future bar routines if I were you. Georgia-Rose Brown is developing into a very fine bar worker, with lines that may rival Larrissa's. Natalia Joura is also looking quite good, give or take a few dodgy transitions.

Anonymous said...

It is interesting that only Larrissa's scores are posted here, why is this. If her scores are known why not the others? Just curious.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Mez said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Larissa still has a flawless stoop dislocate to handstand through to jaeger that i'm sure will be in her routine for worlds. Her routines were the best quality of any routine on any apparatus that was presented over the 2 days. She is a good choice.

Anonymous said...

Can any of the posters who were there/ know someone who was there elaborate?

We keep hearing about Larissa's UB. What about Lauren's beam? Does Georgia look fully recovered? Any new skills? How was Lauren's VT? etc...

Anonymous said...

I think Larissa deserved to be in the team too. She finished first on an appartus on both days and considering there are two places on the team for appartus specialists I think she deserves to go. So it is unlikely that she will make the ub final but you never know.

Anonymous said...

Big congratulations to all the girls, on BOTH teams!

I'm a little disappointed on Emma's behalf, but the third and fourth spots were always going to be about event specialists, not AA, so I can see how a third place wouldn't guarantee her a spot. I'm really looking forward to seeing her routines again, though...I just really like her!

:)

Anonymous said...

I don't feel sorry for britt. She did eel at nationals I feel because the field was so weak and so small. Her routines are more impressive in person than they are in screen but she still is so far from doing well on the world stage. I think at the earliest she should make a team in 2010 - there are three major teams she can have a go at that year.
Fiona coley - I agree seems a bit odd that they'd take her as the viewing squad as at 20 she seems on the verge of retiring again and she never seems very into it. Going by her 2008/09 results here and abroad the money spent training her and jetting her interstate and overseas seems such a tremendous waste. But then that article posted her recently about her was encouraging and perhaps she has come back with a whole new attitude. It didn't look like it to me though in Perth.
It's great and a relief to hear emma is not disheartened at the selection decision. I, like you nade, wouldn't have been surprised or blamed her in the least if she just said f*ck it and retired and went back to being a normal teenager. But it sounds like she is slowly and steadily on her way back and is sure to have a brilliant 2010. I'll join in the cheer: emma dennis for commonwealth vault champ!
If Larissa is so great at bars and looks so tops then I am eager to see her perform and see how she handles this big competition-itscertainly the biggest thing she's ever done so far isn't it?
Brinds
PS why can you guys not just sign your name at the bottom of your posts? How hard can it be? No wonder Mez pulls her hair out! Unless you have a legit reason stop being so weak and hiding under the cover of anonymity.

Anonymous said...

Spoken like a true 18-year-old, Brinds. Please try and accept that journalism thrives on anonymity. Ask people to sign their posts with their real names and they will stop posting altogether. That's how these things work.

Anonymous said...

I don't really understand the need to sign our names. I have a desire more than a need to remain anonymous probably for similar reasons that others do. I would like to choose who I have conversations with about the topics we discuss on this blog. If my comments were public I would not have that choice.

Anonymous said...

Hmm. If we had to sign our names, I suspect that those of us in a position to pass on information would not be able to. What difference does it make who said what anyway?

Anonymous said...

Thanks a lot. I'm just thinking of Mez's sanity. She gets frustrated when people post anonymously here with tidbits they say are true and turn out not to be and you can't pin point the person who said it because no one says who they are.
I understand that some people are great sources of info and are perhaps sharing this info with us all on the side and wish to remain anonymous for this reason but really other than that I don't see why everything must be so secretive.
Shit job at guessing my age too.
Brinds

Anonymous said...

I didn't even say real names either. You think my real name is Brinds?

Anonymous said...

How would pin pointing the name of a person who posted incorrect information help? I haven't seen a lot of incorrect information on here anyway. In anycase, it isn't life or death if something turns out to be incorrect is it? Not having a go Brinds but where is the frustration?

Anonymous said...

Sorry, Brindabella. I know that's not your real name. I won't ask for your real name, nor for your actual age. Please extend me the same courtesy.

I can see that it would be much easier for Mez and others to have names to go with the comments, but unfortunately that's not how these things work. I'm pretty sure the amount of information people pass on would dwindle if posters were forced to sign their names, or even pseudonyms. It's much more comfortable being completely anonymous. Allows you to say things you might not otherwise share. You can see that, can't you?

As long as the anonymous posters are providing useful information rather than making slanderous allegations, they should be allowed to do so anonymously, I think.

Anonymous said...

Part of the anonimity entails a level trust and general politeness.

As long as people choose to behave themselves and not post facetious statements I don't see a problem.

I think for the most part people are on honest when they post information as fact here. Most falsehoods are pretty easily spotted or proved to be wrong by a reliable source. If a lie is somehow convincing enough to be accepted as the truth, what of it? Seems like a waste of time and energy.

Anonymous said...

Well yes I was just thinking of Mez and those slanderous comments that do come our way sometimes. You can see she's had to delete a few just today, so my point does stand. I can understand how Mez gets frustrated - this blog is a job and half, especially when people post attacks I'm sure - and you can see why for a while there she was thinking of making people be a blogger member to post comments here. I'm thinking of her frustration - I'm not frustrated.

Still, I understand and appreciate the fact that some people want to remain anonymous I guess. I *can* see that it's often more comfortable to sign anonymously.

I do like hearing all the different points of view...just sometimes feels odd to not know who I am even discussing things with and when, that's all.

Brinds

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately there will always be a minority who like to stir up trouble. I think that if everyone was made to sign a name it would only lead to more conflict. I'm a member of enough gym boards to know that if you can repeatedly identify someone and their comments it can lead to some tension. People will disagree on certain subjects which is fine, but I can see people turning around and being catty. Things like " You're just biased" or "You just dont like her" which can result in a lot of feuding. By keeping it anon people can express their views with no hesitations. If they wanted to be known they would be.

Brinds I think it's admirable that you want to lessen the frustration for Mez, who BTW runs this blog fantastically and deserves a lot of praise. it's a lot of work maintaing a site like this so I think we should all show a bit more respect for eachother and our respective views.

Anonymous said...

To Aug 20 5.33. I agree the shadow squad is a bit odd but agree with the next post that some of the juniors are still injured - Zoe and Maryanne were at camp but, Zoe especially, was not doing full training and did not look like she would be back to full training for a while. Odd choice for Fiona but good on her anyway, also odd for Emma C given that she will still be junior next year and not eligible for Comm games - would have thought it more prudent to offer the chance to someone who would be eligible for senior comps next year.

Anonymous said...

I don't think it is an odd choice for Fiona to be chosen - just because she is older doesnt mean that she is going to retire...look at Chusovitina- 33 yrs old at the Olympics, look at Nastia Liukin who is the same age as Fiona, Alicia Sacramone, Lisa Skinner, Courtney Kupets, Svetlana Khorkina etc etc. All who have competed or are planning on competing over the age of 20, and still produced new skills and good results.

nade00 said...

re: shadow tour
I think Fiona has reached her peak. She could continue training but I don't see her making huge strides compared to her 2007/2008/2009 form.

If it had been me I would have selected Georgia Rose Brown and Georgia Wheeler (although its possible she turned it down like Japan Junior to work on skills).

Georgia Rose didn't do well in the AA at nationals, so her overall ranking might be deceiving, but in EF she was 1st BB, 2nd UB and 3rd FX. She was clearly one of the better juniors there with the exception of her layout yurchenko on vault. Even someone like Sophie Budack who has great skills but not great consistency probably would have benefited a lot from this trip. She is SNR next year as well.

Anonymous said...

nade00, I agree on Georgia-Rose Brown, a very promising gymnast who turns senior next year. I can't imagine why they left her off the shadow team. Is she injured?

Anonymous said...

I thought Georgia Rose Brown was born January 95 so she is not a senior until 2011

nade00 said...

I assumed she was 94 because on the AYOF site it says she is age 14 - I figured she was 14 turning 15 later in the year but if her bday is early Jan then I guess that explains it. She must have just turned 14 at AYOF.

Anonymous said...

Aha. Well, in that case I can see why she was left off the team.

Off topic, but I like the idea of a shadow team being sent to Europe for more competitive experience. I hope it works out for them.

Anonymous said...

Emma Collister's the same age - born in 95

Anonymous said...

but it is clear why they sent her - jnr champ at nationals.

Anonymous said...

which of the Australian juniors eligible for 2012 has the most promise? Who will be the next stand out?

Anonymous said...

Natalia Joura? Has been injured for a while but still getting new skills.

Anonymous said...

Also Emily Little, Zoe Lorenzin, Maryanne Monkton from the 94 lot and Angela Donald, Ashley Cooney and Amaya King Koi from the 95 lot

Anonymous said...

Natalia's snr in 2011

Anonymous said...

Georgia Rose will most certainly be more of an events speicalist in the future. She will have a beautiful beam and bars and perhaps some lovely grace on floor but i wouldnt expect see anything more then a yurchenko layout on vault. Her twisting is all over the place and lacks power. And she has no SERIOUS injuries atm. So hopefully, being positive, the upgrades will become bigger and better as she gets older as im sure they will.

Anonymous said...

Other Juniors to look out for are Georgia Simpson (recently returned from Senior Camp) and Nikki Chung (competed IDP 10 but will be junior soon and has lovely lines and form). Both girls are from WAIS.

Anonymous said...

For the 2012 Olympics and I think the 2010/2011 world champs there are only going to be five to a team with all five girls doing AA in prelims, top four scores counting like before so for Australia to do well as a team all the girls really need to be solid AAers.

Anonymous said...

Georgia SIMPSON? Never heard of her. What are her best events/skills? Is she at the level of the other WAIS juniors?

Anonymous said...

Georgia Simpson competed National Clubs in 2008 as a Junior but did not compete in 2009 or 2007

Anonymous said...

This is true, However she has just returned (as I said) from camp and is training and talented so who knows? She had time off in 2007 for family reasons but was a training partner for Natalia in the years before that and a leading contender in WA. Sometimes people forget about the kids who are working their way back from injury if they haven't competed for a while. I think you will not be saying that you have never heard of her this time next year. She was first by 5 points and gold on VX, BB and Floor in Int 8 in 2006. Hopefully we'll all see her competing soon.

Anonymous said...

what is her skill level now and where could she help the team? What age is she?

Mez said...

Hey monkeys,

Sorry for being MIA for the day.

Brinds, I love you to bits - not in a rumpy pumpy ladyseks kind of way but you know what I mean ;) - and very much appreciate that you defended my oft-present frustration.

To be honest, the only real concern I've have about all the anonymity is that I can't tell whether some anons are the one person or not. It's hard sometimes but if it's what makes people feel comfortable in leaving their thoughts here than that's ok. Some people feel that even their pseudonym can be traced and I have had sources in the past that have almost put their job security on the line for the information they've given me and I am eleven hundred kinds of grateful and respectful for that!

I like people leaving their names simply because it helps me credit work where it is due but if you're not comfortable with leaving your name than I will respect that.

Anyway.

Don't worry about me. I'm aaaaall good.

And Brindy, she be cool; she ain't got no beefs with nobody so let's all chillax and... something trendy like that.

Anonymous said...

To Anon 4:50 I don't know what Georgias skill level is or what injuries she has been dealing with. She was obviously fit enough/good enough to go to senior camp so I guess she should be considered as a potential future team member. She turns 16 in 2010. I don't know either what her apparatus strengths are but if I were to guess (by body type) I would say bars/beam.

Anonymous said...

There are some pics from the gv idp camp on the vwhpc website. Seems castle hill from NSW also went, as I am almost certain the girl in red on beam is celeste loo, and the girl next to her is rebecca chong. anyone know what club has the green and purple leos?

Anonymous said...

Do you mean the leo's with the green at the top? I can't tell what coulor the bottom is - it looks like dark blue to me. I would have thought probably MLC.

Mez said...

Er... I would hazard a guess and say yeah, MLC and it's Celine Chang, if I'm looking at the photo you're looking at.

Anonymous said...

Three girls from Castle Hill did attend the Victorian idp clinic. Anon 7.49 is correct - on the beam is Celeste in red, Rebecca in black and Diana (competed IDP5 this year)in green (she is also in the bottom photo on the beam).

Anonymous said...

Georgia Simpson will be 15 in Oct.She was the 2006 Int 8 Aust Champ.Sadly 2007 she was diagnosed with OCD in both knees.I think only one had to be pinned.Unfortunately the pins were in the wrong position and after 4 months rehab the operation had to be repeated.That put her out for 2007.Also ,very sadly her older Sister was diagnosed with cancer early 2007 , she was also a very talented gymnast. Unfortunately she lost her battle with cancer in November 2007 at the age of 16.Georgia returned to the gym in 2008 passed Int10 and Junior in one weekend and competed at National Clubs 2008.2009 she was diagnosed with OCD in her elbow and had more surgery which put her out of Nationals. Hopefully she can keep her fitness up and will be competing soon.

Anonymous said...

Georgia Simpson would have to be one of the most talented gymnasts I have seen. She is simply beautiful to watch. My only hope is that she is able to maintain her fitness and show everyone what we in the west already know.

Anonymous said...

That is an amazing and terribly sad story. I will keep my fingers crossed that she will be able to have some success when she turns senior next year.

I assume this is her? http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/3567/nc08w2288.jpg

Anonymous said...

yep. that's georgia.
that's so sad. i had no idea about her sister.