AGB SAYS G'DAY TO... TAYLA DINUCCIO!
Tayla Dinuccio is a vaulting dynamo hailing from Niddrie Gymnastics Club, with a big heart to match her big skills. She has made a rapid rise through the ranks of national levels and frequently appears on the medal dais. Last weekend, she was crowned Victorian State National Level 10 vault champion. Many thanks to Tayla's mum and to her coaches for allowing her to participate.
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AGB: Tell us a bit about your gymnastics journey so far - Where/why did you start gymnastics?
TD: I started gymnastics at Keilor Gymnastics for 6 weeks when I was 7 years old but it then closed down, so I moved to the Melton Mowbray Gymnastics Club and was there for 5 years. I then moved over to the Niddrie Gymnastics Club where I have been for the last 5 years being coached by Nat and Tracy.
AGB: What have been your favourite competitions so far and why?
TD: I have loved competing for the last 5 years in a row for Victoria at Nationals, but my favourite comps would have to be the 2009 Victorian Championships and 2009 Nationals where I was a member of the Level 9 Champion Team, as well as being the National Level 9 vault champion.
AGB: Which is your favourite apparatus to compete on? Which is your least favourite?
TD: Vault is my favourite apparatus! I love using the power and speed that you need to compete a good, strong vault. I don't really have a least favourite one asI enjoy doing them all.
AGB: How did it feel winning the N10 State vault title last weekend? How will it help your progress for future competitions?
TD: It felt great to win the Vault title as l was competing against a very strong and talented group of girls. I was very happy and excited. I always strive to do better than I did in my last competition.
AGB: How do you keep yourself motivated after a bad training session, or a routine that doesn't go your way?
TD: I try not to think about it too much and just let it go, as I find if you make yourself feel down about the things you have done, then the things that you are doing (or going to do) will be worse. So I try and leave it behind me and start fresh. I find that helps and then you are always entering the gym happy and ready to try again.
AGB: What do your friends outside of gymnastics think when they see you do your skills?
TD: Probably the most frequent thing they ask is "how do you land back on your feet?" But they like watching me and think the skills I do are pretty cool.
AGB: Which gymnasts do you admire most and why?
TD: I admire all gymnasts as I know how hard they all work and how dedicated you have to be for what they do.
AGB: What are your hopes for 2010 and your hopes for the years to come?
TD: I hope to compete well at Nationals in July for my state and continue to improve my skills and routines.
AGB: Any other fun information you'd like us to know about you?
TD: I’m a massive Richmond supporter... GO TIGERS!
Favourite foods are pasta and nachos
Favourite TV show is Friends.
Awesome interview! Thanks Mez! And goodluck Tanya!
ReplyDeleteGah spellcheck! I mean Tayla!
ReplyDeleteGo Tae, awesome interview.
ReplyDeleteShe did forget to mention that besides being an exceptional national stream vaulter, she spends her summers in Utah with the national aerial skiing development group.
Well Done Tayla! Got luck at Nationals!
ReplyDeleteTayla the Tiger .... Legend!!
ReplyDeleteI was just reading the WA judges newsletter and it seems nationals are in Perth again next year as well.
ReplyDeleteThis is so unfair on parents and athletes who have to fork out to travel all the way over there three years in a row. I could understand having it there for two years so the WA athletes get a turn, but three years running is a total joke.
The WA state team is consistently far smaller than the teams from other states, for whom it is far cheaper to attend the event on the east coast.
It is quickly becoming unaffordable for families to send athletes, let alone to attend themselves. It might be cheaper for Gymnastics Australia to have it there but it would be nice if they showed some consideration for the parents who are investing a lot of money in gymnastics and wish to have a year where they can support their daughter in person without having to pay a full cross country airfare every time.
Furthermore, we were disappointed in how poorly attended and promoted last years event was which made it much less special for the athletes, and hardly worth the extra effort to get there.
Shame on you GA.
Obviously an East Coast parent. Three years is the deal wherever it is held. Eat a cup of concrete
ReplyDeleteI agree with anon. 2.44pm.
ReplyDeleteIt would be far cheaper and convenient for the WA Teams (Athletes, Coaches, Parents and Officials) to travel, rather than the rest of Australia.
I think the most important thing is that they do a better job this year and next year because last years was crap. They won't change the location now, but at least they could do live scoring, an online stream for the multitude of east coast families who can't attend, or let parents buy DVDs of the competition. That is fair and reasonable if it is going to be so far away three years in a row.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't held for three years in melbourne
ReplyDeleteBut THREE years in a row? What's wrong with 2 years in a row?
ReplyDeleteWhat about people who have daughters in IDP levels and feel obliged to go because they don't know if their daughter will still be competing in three years time when it moves elsewhere and becomes affordable?
The Jnr/Snr elite athletes need the experience competing on a podium and Perth nationals doesn't even have that. You are going to have girls going to worlds in 2011 to qualify a team for London without having ever competed on a podium.
It is just a silly decision that unfairly disadvantages the majority rather than the minority.
I'm expecting 2012 nationals to be held in Wagga or Barrow Creek....they will find a way to shut out even more people as the years go by....
ReplyDeleteAgree with Anon 5:53
ReplyDeleteI understand it is very important for all gymnasts to compete on home turf but the Perth gymnasts are the minority so two years should be the limit
I am disappointed by this news too because last year's nationals was totally flat from an athlete's POV. There was no crowd, no enthusiasm, no atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteIt could have been mistaken for a trial or state championships. They didn't seem to have advertised it at all, and when nobody seems to care, it's hard to really have the event feel important.
It's also hard to see what gymnasts who don't make major teams are really hanging around for because nationals certainly isn't anything special anymore.
What vaults does Tayla compete?
ReplyDeleteUmmm excuse me. Last year when it was held in Perth - that was the first time it'd been held there in bloody forever. I think it may have even been the first time since that doco was filmed here (Poetry in motion?) and that was AGES ago - back when Challenge was actually called the Superdome rather than Challenge and it has been called Challenge for at least a decade now, probably longer. Allana and Trudy and co were all still itty bitty leotards when it was last held in Perth.
ReplyDeleteShare it around you know guys. East coast gets everything - Pac Rim, Nationals almost all the time, Worlds. I know Perth is shithouse and we don't have the good facilities to house comps like that but at least let us have some stuff sometimes.
Imagine how Gymnastics SA must feel - they never get anything either. At least you guys can travel to events in Sydney and Melbourne cos it's just not that far for you to drive or take a quick, cheap Tiger flight or something. It's a $500+ plane ride for us to get to all the events held on the east coast. it's a nice change to finally have something on the west coast, and I am sure Liz Chetkovich and all the WAIS girls are loving it and have waited long enough for this to finally happen after having to fork out for years to go to all the camps and comps on the east coast. It works both ways - you don't think the WA parents find it difficult to find the money to constantly go to Melbourne and Sydney to watch their daughters and sons compete?
This is very disappointing if it is the case. I agree with trying to share it around to a point but Melbourne seems to be the only place that gets decent publicity and crowds and where you actually feel like you are at a proper gym competition. Last year there were hardly any vids or info from the event and it was like it never happened. Not happy!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone considered that perhaps the venues in other states were either not available, or priced themselves out of the running to host the event? Plus I would think the girls from the eastern states would look forward to competing after travelling seeing as how all the international comps require them to be good travellers! It's good practice.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the girls do like to compete after travelling however it is very hard to compete with very little atmosphere. The girls need a good strong crowd to help vamp them up a bit.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course everything needs to be shared but everyone and everything - equipment, publicity ect. - needs to be considered
I think it was starkly obvious to everyone last year how much of a pathetic non event Perth nats were, and I feel confident they will make more of an effort this year.
ReplyDeleteTayla is competing layout tsukahara (D 4.6 I think) but mainly good because she's really powerful and it usually pops up really well.
ReplyDeleteIs the problem GYM WA, GA or just Perth 'fans'? In my experience the only place that turns on a crwod is Melbourne - for anything. Can't always hold them in Vic just to get a crowd.
ReplyDeleteIs the problem with Gym WA, GA or with Perth'fans'? In my experience, the only place you get a crowd for any sport, especially gymnastics, is Melbourne. You can't always hold them in Vic just to get a crowd.
ReplyDeletePerth may have three in a row but it probably won't be back for more than a decade after than so it will be better for the east coasters then. Keep in mind all camps are at AIS which is also a long way from Perth. So I can understand why Perth is having a few nationals.
ReplyDeletePretty much echoing what has been said re: having it 3 years in a row is a bit much. Only because for those families with athletes active in those 3 years, it is much too difficult financially, and frankly I'm sure the athletes would prefer it being in an exciting new location each time.
ReplyDeleteI would be pretty depressed if the three years I got to go to nationals were those in dingy Challenge Stadium, knowing how glossy the event was just a year earlier in Melbourne, with a podium, a crowd, newspaper coverage and Getty Photographers.
Part of the elite nationals should be about giving the ELITE athletes the respect they deserve by holding an exciting high level event.
It is so frustrating that every now and then GA seem like they want to try and provide better coverage (eg 2008 stream, 2007 radio broadcast, 2009 AYOF live scores, 2010 PAC) but then at the next event there is nothing. Zero consistency or reliability.
And when it is in an area of the country where barely anyone lives, it is even more important. I know that last year ALL the video coverage we got was provided by two fans who won't be attending this year, so don't get your hopes up or even expect to hear anything until the week after!
Last year, GWA clearly had not organised it or promoted it well, and GA did absolutely nothing to make it seem like an important event. If GA don't show that they think it is important, then how can they expect people to care and show up in person?
They didn't post any videos, and all we got was a Microsoft Word scoresheet with no proper d-score/e-score separation or tabulation information. And I can't stand those tiny underexposed photos. Can nobody in this whole organisation find someone to take some decent shots?
I don't think people would be as upset if they implemeted initiatives similar to those they have in the UK.
-Gymdata (http://www.gymdata.co.uk/)
-BGTV
(http://www.british-gymnastics.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=442&Itemid=419)
If I were going to really try and boost the profile of the sport, these are the types of things I would be investing in. If people can peek at competitions online and easily access results to follow the progress of different athletes you will start to attract more people who will attend in person when the time comes.
Yet Gymnastics Australia dilly dally about thinking they are gods gift to fans/parents/supporters/clubs because they post a couple of crappy underexposed pictures.
It's about getting people interested and involved in gymnastics by spotlighting athletes for young gymnasts to look up to. I would never have gotten involved in gymnastics if I didn't think that Allana Slater was the best thing since sliced bread when I was 8 years old. They just don't seem to get it.
Well with any luck GA's new CEO Catherine Clark will turn some of this around.
ReplyDeleteYes, I hope so. I have not heard too much about her, but she has to be better than the other tool.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could ask a few who know from NZ before you decide who is a tool and who isn't
ReplyDeleteAnon June 19, 2010 5:50 PM (and everyone else who thinks Melbourne has missed out on their fair share)
ReplyDeletethis event was last held in Melbourne in 2001, 2002 and 2003 (3 years in a row!). Also, Melbourne had Australian Championships for 2 years (2007 and 2008) which was an event held in May which included just IDP 10 and up and also the higher level (10 and up MAG gymnasts). During those years Nationals (all the other levels and IDP) was held in Queensland so I guess Queensland had Nationals for only 2 years but it was a completely different event (no IDP 10 - Senior and including MG). Before those two years, as far back as the results go on the GA website Nationals has been 3 years in one place.
2004, 2005 and 2006 - NSW, held in May and included WG (National and International levels), MG and RG.
2001, 2002 and 2003 - Melbourne, including WAG national levels and international. During these years RG was held in Adelaide and MAG in September in Queensland. Maybe someone here has been around long enough to clarify what happened prior to 2001 but everything I have heard suggets that 3 is the Norm. So just to sum that up, in the last 9 years the Senior WG athletes have had their National event in Melborne 5 times, Sydney 3 times and Perth once. National levels and levels IDP 6 and 8 - Melbourne 3 times, Sydney 3 times, Brisbane twice and Perth once. Also every year Camps and National Clubs have been held in Canberra except 1 junior development Camp (held in Perth last year). Yes I can see that the eastern states athletes (and Parents)get a pretty raw deal! Having said all that, it was great the year we got live streaming and I think that should be an every year thing so that no one misses out. If that is not possible then official videoing on the GA site would be a good idea.
There will be no spectaters in the stands at Perth Nationals! Look at the prices! $22.00 adult each session and paying for a thurs-Sunday pass for the 7 sessions is $150.00 you save $4.00.
ReplyDeleteRE: Anon 12:28
ReplyDeletejust something that i pointed out earlier and i don't think that melbourne is missing out on anything at all!
i think you became a tad to defensive about that comment
Those prices are ridiculous!!!! $22 should be for the whole day to encourage people to come and watch. With the number of Elite gymnasts.. they should all be done at the same time.$150 for 7 sessions is a joke.
ReplyDeleteA great way to isolate gymnastics some more..... way to Go Perth!!!
I didn't mean for my post to be defensive (but I guess it was a bit), it's just that there have been several references (in previous posts)to Melbourne only having 2 years to support the argument that 3 years is too long. I just wanted to point out that those two years were the exception not the rule and that for some reason the event was split over 2 separate events in 2 locations at different times. It is understandable because there are probably plenty people (including me) who haven't been around the sport for that long at the National level and might not know this. Looking back through the flicking back issues it seems the decision was made in the early 90's to hold Nationals in the same place at the same time each year for at least 3 years to help to promote the sport to the public and the sponsors. There are references to this decision and the fact that GA felt it had worked in several of the issues that I read. I also saw that nationals was last in Perth in 93, 94 and 95 and Melbourne for 4 years befor that. NSW in 1996 and no information on 1997 - 2000 but probably NSW I guess since the Olympics were there in 2000. There seemed to be a lot more international events combined with Nationals than there are now and that would certainly make a difference IMO. Maybe history has shown that it takes some time to create a successful event in a place. Maybe the event will be better in Perth this year and better again next. One of the unfortunate things about Nationals in Perth is that it is held in school holidays so they can't bring in school groups to boost the numbers and create atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteHow much did it cost when it was held in other states?
ReplyDeleteThe 4 day pass is half price ($74) when bought as groups of 20 or more. Is there anyone coming to Nationals who is not part of a group of 20 or more? If they haven't already done so ask your clubs/state associations to organise a group booking. Better yet, offer to do it for them! No one should be paying the double price ticket. This applies to all the tickets so whatever sessions your "group" is coming to, you should be able to organise a group booking and pay half price.
ReplyDeleteI think the Australian Championships was a much better system, becasue it really showed off the very best of the elite and were respected by the media. When it was combined with levels the whole thing lost class. Also, it makes it much more difficult to schedule. They ain't gonna be able to rent out Hisense arena for more than a week as is required when having the event combined. I think they should have a MAG/WAG combined elite nationals again, with IDP6-8 too, in a proper venue with a podium and emphasis on the athletes as the best of the best.
ReplyDeleteI would be prepared to pay $22 for Jnr/Snr sessions but the rest should be $22 for the day. I have paid this at previous nationals. Is parking also $8.00 a day. At the prices listed most people will just watch their own daughters! Why is there not a better all comp price!
ReplyDeleteParking is free
ReplyDeleteCath Clark was CEO of NZ Gymsports for less than two years (iirc), she seemed really promising at first.
ReplyDeleteTalked about cleaning out the dead wood and staying to improve the sport in NZ. Not sure if she left because she was prevented from making positive change or because she just got bored of it once the re-branding was complete.
What makes you think parking is free? Was it last year? Every other event held at Challenge it costs $8 for parking. Maybe it is included in the ticket price.
ReplyDeleteAll the tickets are around half price as long as you book in groups of 20 or more. I can't think of anyone travelling to nationals who could not be part of a group (state, club, friends etc) so no one should have to pay the higher price. At half that $10-$12 per session and $24-$30 per day it seems pretty reasonable to me. Also all the National Levels sessions (3 days)$65, All the Int Sessions (4days) $74 or both $125 seems ok. But then again I pay more where I am to gain entry to State Championships!
ReplyDeleteit would make life so much easier if GA just stuck to a rotation of the states/capital cities.
ReplyDeleteTo June 20 at 2.42pm
ReplyDeleteI am a parent of a gymnast going to Perth from an Eastern State. I am the only person going from my club. I have not seen it advertised by my State Association or GA where l have the opportunity to join a group of 20 to reduce the spectator costs period.
It would be great if l did have that opportunity and furthmore it would add one more bum on a seat as a spectator for all sessions to cheer on the gymnasts.
The cheaper seats for buying in a group of 20 or more while being great for those who have groups to form, is in this circumstance, discriminating against someone like me.
To the people of GA or whoever has set this price, if you read this, could you please reconsider your decision and make the cheaper multi passes available for all.
Parking is definitely free at challenge. I am from Perth and went to every elite session last year and it was free. I also thought the ticket prices to get in were quite reasonable. Surely at a much bigger better stadium like HiSense and wherever they use in Sydney you'd be paying more at the door to cover the cost of such a glam place?!
ReplyDeleteHopefully they will listen to what people have to say and make these things more accessible. If you're a parent with a daughter who likes gymnastics, and want to attend the JNR/SNR sessions, that's gonna cost you over a hundred dollars. Personally, being involved with gym as I am, I would pay it, but for the majority of people, they are going to choose other school holiday activities that are not so expensive.
ReplyDeleteI think it is also important that they address the lack of coverage for parents and friends who cannot make the trip but still wish to see the event/receive information about it.
Back in the day Gymnastics Australia used to film all sessions and sell them on tape to people who wanted a copy. Now they don't go to the effort of making these things available and it is a real shame because as a parent if you can't attend you miss out completely.
To the person travelling to watch her daughter (i assume) and not part of a group, if your daughter is going to Nationals SHE is part of a group and therefore spectators going to see that group are a group too. Just because it hasn't been advertised that you can get group tickets doesn't mean you can't. Ring your State association and explain the situation, ring the other clubs who are sending athletes. If this doesn't help - ring the state association of another state! Someone will be able to help you. Just do NOT pay double the price! Good luck
ReplyDeleteI just re read your post and saw you hadn't seen it advertised that the tickets were available at a cheaper rate. On the GA website there is a news item about Nationals with a lick to the ticket site. This is where the information about the group tickets being cheaper is. Sorry I didn't read it properly before. Hope this helps.
ReplyDeleteWhy has this post turned into a who say on where nationals should be held. Isn't it supposed to be about a great ambassador to her state in Tayla. Good luck Tayla have a great comp in Perth.
ReplyDeleteIn the International streamlines, I don't think any of the states will have groups of more than 20 parents going to watch as there is hardly any International girls competing.
ReplyDeleteThis is not related, but did anyone watch the girls at WA states? Also, has anyone heard anything about Daria's training is going?
ReplyDeleteYeah, WA news would be great if anyone has any.
ReplyDeleteMelbourne is and probably always will be the sporting capital of Australia. Therefore, elite athletes and sports people deserve to experience competing in Melbourne on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, the venues in Melbourne are expensive to hire. If the other capital cities can do it cheaper, they should definitely hold the events. But:
1. Most of the gym families and friend are based on the East Coast and they're the only guaranteed attendees.
2. Perth needs to work on marketing the events to attract non die hard fans.
3. I wouldn't be happy paying top dollar for gym tickets unless it was held in a proper arena on a proper podium. Perth should not be asking people to pay such prices if they expect high attendance.
As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter how many times Nationals has been held in Melbourne before, it should be held there every year.
ReplyDeleteThe arena at Hisense is far superior to Perth and you can actually get a podium in there. You can't get a podium in Challenge arena - you may as well just call it a club meet. The arena is no better! .
And you will get much bigger audiences in Melbourne. What east siders are going to go all the way over to Perth for not even a podium? Nationals in Melbourne was a far better standard that last year. Have it in Melbourne so the girls can have more experience on a podium for when they have to compete internationally.
Honestly.
I agree, elite nationals should permanently be in Melbourne where they have shown they can hold a great event, whereas levels nationals should move around. I travelled down to Melbourne for 2007 and 2008 nationals and I thought they did such a fantastic job. The event felt like a nationals and not just any other club meet. There was also a sizeable crowd both times. The elite girls really deserve to have a proper event separate from levels given all the hard work and extra hours they put in.
ReplyDeleteWhile l agree that Nationals should be a bigger and more special event for the gymnasts, I don't think that the WG Elite Nationals should be held seperately to the Levels. There really isn't enough of them to warrant a seperate venue or the expense involved to set up & run it. In Melbourne we recently had Victorian Championships where both streams competed. GV did an awesome job, the venue was brillant, it was run beautifully and there were lots of spectators at all sessions. I believe that both streams deserve something a bit more special for Nationals than what Perth offered last year, afterall, no matter what stream the girls compete at, they all work as hard as they can.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Perth will surprise you this year and it will be a lot better.
ReplyDeleteI bet if you lived outside of Melbourne you wouldn't be whining about how you think it should always be held there.
How much were tickets per session in Melbourne anyways, to compare, since Perth prices are apparently such a rip off?
Trying hard to remember ticket prices from Hisense a couple of years ago. Pretty sure the Jnr/Snr sessions were about $20 full price and maybe $12 concession, but pretty sure you could get into the Int 10 session for free (it was during the day). But its been a while and didn't really take note then.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mez for the interview. I wish Tayla good luck for the upcoming Nationals. To those asking for some WA News, as small as it is check here for a brief report. http://chimgym.blogspot.com/2010/06/west-australian-article-on-states.html
ReplyDeleteanon June 20 2;05PM
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to combine the event as a solution to gather a bigger crowd. We should appoint the person who suggested this as GA's new CEO. It dosn't take a rocket scientest to work out a simple solution...LOL
In regard to the travel my daughter enjoys packing her bags and jumping on a plane to go to a competition interstate, it adds to the excitment of competing, yes it is expensive, but what other elite sport isnt.
I am surprised at the inaccuracies in that article from the West Australian. States were not held at Challenge and I'm not sure what Naazmi Johnston has to do with WA states. It's like the reporter interviewed someone and didn't take any notes then tried to piece it together later. Too funny.
ReplyDeleteHere is an article from the Perth now site which says basically - nothing. Still someone might find it interesting.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/othersports/gymnastics-trailblazer-lauren-mitchell-prepares-for-tough-trials-ahead/story-fn4pw13c-1225881748768
As for WA states - some of the National Level 10's didn't compete but Olivia did display routines and her floor was great to watch. She is a very entertaining gymnast these days and appeared to be having fun. Snr and Jnr Int had only one competitor each so not very interesting IMO.
From the GWA website - "Rhythmic Senior International gymnast Janine Murray is the favourite to take out the title of State Champion. She will receive strong competition from Australian Champion and Olympian Naazmi Johnston who will also be competiting along with other interstate contenders at the Commonwealth Games trial event to be held in conjunction with State Championships."
ReplyDeleteat least this explains the reference to Naazmi Johnson in the West Australian Article. I had no idea there was a Commonwealth trial event being held for RG at WA states - and I live here!
Congratulations Tayla for your performance at Nationals. You did what you set out to do. Australian Vault Champ again and also a member of the Champion team. Your vaults were awesome.
ReplyDelete