Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Breaking: Shona to Stanford

Something I've been waiting to break for a while and now, at last, can!


It's been confirmed by Stanford University that Aussie Olympian and head ginger at Waverley Gymnastics Centre, Shona Morgan, will be heading there for the new collegiate season!

“I am so excited that Shona will be joining us this fall. She rounds out a stellar class for 2010. Shona is a world-class athlete with extensive international experience,” said Stanford head coach Kristen Smyth. “She is fantastic on all four events but really shines on vault and beam. She is a confident competitor and her routines are packed with difficulty. She brings maturity and international flavor to our program and the collegiate gymnastics community.”


She joins fellow Commonwealth gymnast (and other other other AGB favourite) Kristina Vaculik of Canada in heading to the Big S for the new season.


Best of luck, ShoMo, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time! We'll miss you!


36 comments:

  1. so when does she start there?

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  2. At this year's National Championships, she medaled in all five disciplines, winning gold in both the uneven bar and vault, while finishing as a runner-up in both the all around and balance beam. She was third in the floor exercise for the second time in her career.

    This is impressive, since it is still 3 weeks away!

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  3. it must be referring to Vics as that was her results there

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  4. oh ok. It says Nationals. Easy mistake to make I guess. It's great to see so many of our athletes getting these places. They deserve a pathway after gym after all the hard work. Plus we get to see them for longer this way! Maybe Mel and Shona will come back for National 10 one day like Olivia. Does the season start after their Summer break? Does anyone know? I'm pretty sure the school year does.

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  5. what does this mean for Comms and Worlds - can she still do both?

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  6. Yes, apparently she is delaying her start to college by a few weeks and plans to head off to Stanford immediately after worlds. How exciting for Shona and Stanford. Good luck Shona! We love you and know you will do great!

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  7. On the topic of congratulations I would like say well done to all the gymnasts that have recently been selected into the aerial skiing talent transfer program

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  8. WOW! That is AWESOME! She will have such an awesome time, California is a great place to be, Stanford is an excellent university for sport and academics. The college atmosphere over there is amazing, such support and pride. Nice work Shona- I have no doubt you will have the experience of a life time!

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  9. Congratulations to shona! what an excellent achievement. good to see gymnasts have various options after their elite careers. Also congratulations to Amber Fulljames who will be heading over to montreal to join Cirque du soleil.

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  10. Amber would be great in Cirque! I wonder what she is doing?

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  11. Congratulations Shona! Can't think of anyone more deserving. I'm sure you will rock in NCAA...well done!

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  12. Oh,has the World's Team been already announced!! When was this done or is Shona being a bit presumptuous that she will be in the team. If the team has been announced who is in it?

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  13. The team hasn't been announced. I don't think Shona is assuming she is in the team I would think she would just be aiming to complete at CWG and worlds. If she doesn't make the team/s then she might go to Stanford earlier. Shona seems to be coming back well from her injury and I assume she is a good chance to make the team/s.

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  14. Well Annon 5.50pm, I think it is great that Shona is being so positive about making the Teams for Worlds and Comms. Would you rather she had a negative attitude like yourself.

    You can do it Shona, I know you can!

    PS Congratulations on your Scholarship to Stanford, they are very lucky to have such a well respected and world class athlete!

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  15. Anon 6:35pm - the thread had no negativity, it was simply a comment that I thought was well written as an enquiry (I did not write it).

    People please try to look for the positive in things rather than jumping on something that you may have misinterpreted. I read this blog and think it is a valuable resource as we can voice opinions and receive information that we perhaps would not otherwise get.

    Everyone, look for the good in people!

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  16. Interesting (somewhat narrow) discussion at the College gym board, regarding recruiting foreign gymnasts. Some parents concerned about their daughter missing out after years of hard work!!!
    Here's a link http://collegegymnasticsboard.yuku.com/topic/6382/t/Shona-Morgan-to-Stanford.html

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  17. Anon at 5:50, what a mean and unnecessary comment. Shona probably will be on the team, and I don't see any suggestion that she is being presumptuous or conceited. For scheduling reasons, I'm sure she has to have an accurate idea of whether or not she will make it.

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  18. Did anyone else notice that the work orders for nationals are up? You can pretty much tell who's competing, but one of Naomi, Ashleigh B and Britt won't be competing. Anyone know who is not going?

    Also, one of E Collister, R Collister, Donald, McGrath, O'Donnell, Brown, Exum, Sanders, Hingston isn't going.

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  19. Off topic I know.... but QLD states are on this weekend with these gymnasts down to compete:

    Int 8
    Abbie Benstead
    Eden Tarvit
    Tamika Jones

    Int 10
    Tianye Boorman
    Yasmin Budack
    Georgia Godwin
    Brittany Boffo

    JNR
    Natalia Joura
    Katie Wurth
    Shar-lee Clark
    Amaya King Koi

    SNR
    Sophie Budack
    Larrissa Miller
    Bridget Beattie
    Karina Brooks

    MAG Snr/U18
    Philippe Rizzo
    Luke Wiwatowski
    Thomas Pichler
    Naoya Tsukahara
    Joshua Jefferis
    Scott Costin
    Mitchell Jones
    Brody-Jai Hennessy

    Should be a great event anyone going??? videos/photos would be much appreciated :)

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  20. Naomi and R Collister not going

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  21. Any particular reason why Rachel is not going?

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  22. So what is the deal with Isis and Maddie from Jets? They are totally MIA

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  23. Check out this bizarre vid:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT4OIKyg3fQ

    I love the toy soldier vibe of this routine, I think it has potential for some great artistry with a few tweaks to improve the flow.

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  24. Anon at 5:50 I'm curious to what you would have said if Shona didn't schedule around possible worlds selection? Seems to me that she'd be criticised either way! I think we should all be so proud that she is willing to hold off slightly on such an exciting event in her life, to offer herself as a possible Australian team member. What a wonderful role model she is for young Australian gymnasts!

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  25. Is this accurate for nationals?

    Britt Greeley
    Lauren Mitchell
    Georgia Bonora
    Shona Morgan
    Emma Dennis
    Georgia Wheeler
    Ashleigh Brennan
    Mary-Anne Monckton
    Larrissa Miller
    Bridget Beattie
    Sophie Budack
    Natasha Hammann
    Ruth Neeves
    Svetlana Sanders
    Tierra Exum
    Georgia Rose Brown
    Emma Collister
    Angela Donald
    Laura Hingston
    Clare O’Donnell
    Amelia McGrath
    Rachel Lyons
    Natalia Joura
    Katie Wurth
    Amaya King Koi
    Shar-lee Clark
    Nikola Chung
    Emma Nedov

    Absent:
    Fiona Coley
    Naomi Russell (DNQ? where does this leave her? I thought nationals was her main goal?)
    Zoe Lorenzin
    Dasha Joura
    Chloe Turko
    Isobel Looker
    Emily Little
    Georgia Simpson
    Karina Brooks (DNQ?)
    Ashley Cooney (DNQ?)
    Rachel Collister
    Naomi Lee
    Amie Martin
    Crystal Yeo
    Monica Sloane (DNQ?)
    Ashleigh Kittl
    Isis Lowery
    Madeline Green

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  26. This is not accurate

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  27. so.....what is not accurate about it? lol

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  28. Britt Greeley
    Lauren Mitchell
    Georgia Bonora
    Shona Morgan
    Emma Dennis
    Georgia Wheeler
    Ashleigh Brennan
    Mary-Anne Monckton
    Larrissa Miller
    Bridget Beattie
    Sophie Budack
    Natasha Hammann
    Karina Brooks


    Svetlana Sanders
    Tierra Exum
    Georgia Rose Brown
    Emma Collister
    Angela Donald
    Laura Hingston
    Clare O’Donnell
    Amelia McGrath
    Rachel Lyons
    Natalia Joura
    Katie Wurth
    Amaya King Koi
    Shar-lee Clark
    Nikola Chung
    Emma Nedov
    Ashleigh Kittl
    Monica Sloane

    This what in the list

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  29. Is Ashley Cooney like always injured or something? She was looking so good on bars last year but she never seems to compete....

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  30. chloe turko has finished up with elite gymnastics and i think she is making a transition into aerial skiing

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  31. I do think Chloe is moving into aerial skiing, I thought she was moving into national levels

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  32. yeh she is doing levels but has also spoken about aerial skiing

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  33. Naomi Russell is not going to nats

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