Can ya feel the excitement!?
I will update names as they filter through from sources.
Congratulations to...
*Ashleigh Brennan
* Mary-Anne Monckton
* Georgia Wheeler (2nd reserve)
*************************************
That's all I've been informed about. I have to go now, and won't be back until very late, so chat amongst yourselves as the rest of the team is announced. Have a good Monday.
**************************************
I knew it! Not ten minutes after I shut down my laptop and leave the house for my extra-long shift at work, does a text message come through informing me of the full team! I guess you can't always be around for the good stuff. I am now trawling through all your lively comments and discussions!
It's well after midnight here but I'm sending happy vibes out to...
*Ashleigh Brennan
* Lauren Mitchell
* Emily Little
* Mary-Anne Monckton
* Georgia Bonora
Well done, ladies, and good luck!
GW 2nd reserve! Interesting,wonder if MM 1st reserve? Im sure if these 2 know, they have all been told.
ReplyDeleteIf GW is second reserve then Lauren and Emily would have to be on the team with Georgia B and Ash,who are the other two !?!
ReplyDeleteThere are only 5 on the team -
ReplyDeleteIf I had to guess now I would say it must be
MAM
GBONORA
ABRENNAN
ELITTLE
LMITCHELL
1. MORGAN
2. WHEELER
Is there a chance Emily didn't make it? Her PacRim scores weren't that high after all.
ReplyDeleteYes I know there are only 5 on the team and 2 reserves. Emily would have made it, she always was.
ReplyDeletei would be surprised if emily didnt make the team mainly because of what peggy has saiddd. Anon 1:55 i think your team could be right
ReplyDeleteMAM ad larrissa are going to be fightin it out for a spot for sure. I hope larrissa gets it.
ReplyDeleteEmily definitey will, especially if Shona doesn't, cos they need a decent vaulter. And she is decent enough after her achievements at PAC rim
As I said earlier this week, a very reliable source informed me that the team would be exactly as anon 1.55 says.
ReplyDeleteA great team apart from MAM, Shona or Wheeler should of got in over her.
I think I would have picked Shona over either Ashleigh or Emily. She beat Ashleigh by miles at Vics and has higher DV than Emily. Plus she could have her 2 very competitive vaults from last year back by October.
ReplyDeleteWheeler has fallen apart under pressure. She is all strength no grace. Second reserve is appropriate.
ReplyDeleteMAM is definitely on the team!
ReplyDeletewell if Emily is on the team I hope she turns up and surprises us with better physical conditioning and improved artistry.
ReplyDeleteEmily will be on the team. I also hope she will be fit enough.
ReplyDeleteAnon 2:17 PM - have you looked at Emily's record at international competitions - it seems she has actually achieved a lot in the sport and I don't understand the constant Emily knocking.
ReplyDeleteI wonder who will be in the worlds training squad? I don't think we had more than 12 girls competing at Nationals, maybe some of the injured girls will get an opportunity. It worked for Lauren and Emily.
ReplyDeleteAnon 2.34pm Do you think Lauren and Emily went out of their way to be injured as they were probably devastated that they couldn't compete at the trials. Grow up.
ReplyDeleteHey Mez
ReplyDeleteYou have forgotten to add MM to your front page list, she is obviously on the team ;)
Sorry anon 2.37pm did'nt mean to sound nasty, I meant that I hope other injured gymnasts will be able to partition to be able to be selected to trial and have the same treatment as Lauren and Emily so as to be fair. I Know they would have been devastated and I don't wish injury on anyone!
ReplyDeleteSo now we are just waiting on 1st reserve?
ReplyDeleteand the final list of 12.
ReplyDeleteBit dissapointed that MM is on the team. A reserve I would have been happier with.She did amazing at Nationals but I would be concerned if she is strong enough to get through the training camps etc. seeing as she had to be pulled from floor and vault finals at nationals. I think there are stronger and more experienced girls that perhaps should be selected. I suppose it will be good for the AIS to have an athlete selected.
ReplyDeleteDitto anon 2.57pm, this is why it will be interesting to find out who the 1st reserve is.
ReplyDeleteFor MM to get in over Larissa is simply a joke. There is nothing more to say.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with anon 2.57. I'm not sure MM is consistent enough yet. I supoose we'll see.
ReplyDeleteI know, and Shona is just as good as MM on bars and has 3 other good events too.
ReplyDeleteLarrissa could have said it herself if she was able hit even one bar routine at Nationals. Her other apparatus were very low standard, so what did she bring to the table?
ReplyDeleteIt seems some people are given the benefit of the doubt re consistency where others are not.
ReplyDelete1. Ashleigh was selected presumably for the BB/FX spot despite having fallen in every beam routine she has done in her comeback.
2. MAM was selected despite falling in every beam she attempted at nationals, not completing EF, and only scoring over 13 on bars 2 out of 3 days.
Why shouldn't this benefit of the doubt be extended to Larrissa? Out of everyone, she should be the gamble after what she achieved last year in EF.
I dont think Larrissa will make the team. She just didnt bring her best at nationals.
ReplyDeleteexactly if larrissa could have hit bars at nationals she would have been on the team. I feel bad for shona she has been so good for australia for the last few years and she was sick at nationals and not at her best
ReplyDeleteAnon 3.07 I agree with you completely.
ReplyDeleteYes but the point is that neither did others but they still made the team. How did Ashleigh bring her best if she only competed 1 day out of 3 and on that day fell on the event she is supposed to be used on? How did Mary-Anne if she hit 0/3 on beam? These girls weren't exactly impressive either.
ReplyDeleteAnon 3.07pm
ReplyDeleteWell said. I can't believe that MaM has been picked over Larissa. Larissa has far more to offer than her and not only that, she has more evidence of achievements at an international standard.
For me the only surprise was Ashleigh . As has been mentioned before, this is her record on beam since she has started competing again:
ReplyDeleteTrial 1: fell
E: 5.9
Trial 2: fell
E: 6.7
Vics Day 1: fell
E: 7.1
Vics day 2: fell
E: 7.45
Nationals day 1: fell
(only know she scored 12.975)
How can this earn selection as a beam specialist?
Has Ashleigh necessarily been selected as a beam specialist, though?
ReplyDeleteIf it was a team of Lauren, Georgia B, Emily, Ashleigh and Maryanne, perhaps you'd have the first three doing all around, Ashleigh on vault and floor, and Maryanne on bars and beam?
Personally, I'd put Ashleigh on beam over Maryanne, but who knows what Peggy is thinking!
It seems to me that the selection committee don't put much thought into this, nor do they do any serious number crunching. I originally thought this team was logical, but looking at the numbers, I don't think it is the best team anymore. They are foolish for not taking any of the preceding meets into account.
ReplyDeleteBesides, the thing with taking Larrissa is, that even if she does fall, she still gets a respectable score in the 13s. If Mary-Anne screws up, we are looking at low 12s or even 11s.
You couldn't use Ashleigh on vault - her vault is far too weak.
ReplyDeleteIf you were looking for a vault and floor person, you would have picked Shona who has 2 competitive vaults for an EF spot and a solid floor. That's why it makes no sense.
ReplyDeleteShona scored higher on floor than Ashleigh at nationals.....
ReplyDeleteHmmm... could it be that Shona actually made it over Emily, then? All reports FOREVER have suggested Emily is in, but everyone is right - none of it makes much sense!
ReplyDeleteThis has been a serious f***up. I hope the girls appeal, because the numbers don't add up at all.
ReplyDeletewhat 2 competitive vaults does shona have for an EF that are any more competitve than others? Perhaps Ashleighs consistant D score that got her in on Beam - nothing lower than 5.8 where as many are struggling to reach a D score of 5. I guess we'll know for sure when we know who is doing which apparatus
ReplyDeleteShona turned up at worlds last year with a double twisting Yurchenko and a layout pod. At Vics she looked on her way to getting these back. At the very least she would have 2 very well done 5.0 vaults, assuming she doesn't improve at all between now and October. But I doubt she plans to compete such simple vaults later in the year anyway.
ReplyDeleteThis was was one of her nicely done vaults at Vics:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oEHAbuIayA
I've also heard from a reliable source it's Mitchell, Little, Brennan, Monckton, Bonora.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with what is being said about Shona - she should be in based on the Vics results and her record.
ReplyDeleteBut is it a possibility that she is actually injured, and was not just 'ill' at nationals? There were no official sources confirming that she was ill, and it just makes me wonder if maybe she is injured and it is clear that she will not be able to perform at peak come October.
Just trying to find a logical explanation for her omission..... If Larrissa turns out to be first reserve, then I am sure that must be the case. If Shona is indeed first reserve, then if I were her I would be pretty angry.
The only girls that got the required 50 points at Nationals were Georgia B, MAM, Shona, Emma D, Georgia W, Sophie, Larissa and Ashleigh. Whilst alot achieved the qualification score for Vault, the only ones to achieve it on Bars were MAM and GB, on Beam GB and on Floor GB and Shona. Emilys scores at Pac Rim were probably enough to see her through Vault 14.7, Bars 13.475, Beam 13.95 and Floor 13.3
ReplyDeleteIt could be very hard for Australia to score well on bars Georgia did well on bars in apparatus finals at nationals but it is far from her best apparatus. Maryanne looked okay but she still has a lot of improving to do. Bars is also not Emily and Lauren's best apparatus.
ReplyDeleteI know one anon said Ashleigh's vault is too weak but I seriously doubt Maryanne can compete vault from what we have seen and given the 5-4-3 in quals and team finals one of Ashleigh of Maryanne will have to compete vault.
Assuming Lauren, Georgia and Emily are competing AA then Maryanne and Ashleigh will be competing the four apparatus between them. Given Ashleigh's past international performances on beam and the fact that Maryanne seems to be struggling with vault and floor, Ashleigh could be competing VT/BB/FX and that leaves Maryanne with just UB.
Maybe Nade is right and Shona is injured because I really think she deserved to be on the team.
That's the thing about Shona too, she scored 13.850 on bars at Vics with a 5.6, same value as Mary-Anne. I am so upset that at nationals they held it against her that she went and competed when she was not at her best. At least she tried instead of taking the easier appeal route.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know if there is an avenue for Shona to appeal?
Okay, WTF is all I have to say. Are they f****** mad? Seems they just pick girls from institutes they want to favour for funding like the AIS and VWHPC rather than giving athletes from private clubs like MBC and Waverley the credit they deserve.
ReplyDeleteThis team is going to suck big time on bars. Bonora was totally gifted in EF at nationals, so don't rely on that score.
ReplyDeleteThe DV we have are only
Monckton 5.6
Bonora 5.3
Mitchell 5.6
Little 5.3
And Brennan's bars are completely unusable so the above 4 will have to be the ones to go. That is really not going to score well at all, no score will break 14. I can't believe how poorly this selection was thought out! I assumed they would at least have the sense to pick Miller or Morgan for bars.
Has the team been announced?
ReplyDeleteNo I don't think the team has been announced.
ReplyDeleteEven vault could be a bit of a worry. Georgia's FTY well executed but will still probably only score high 13s. Ashleigh tsuk full at nationals only scored 13.2. Emily has a DTY but there is going to be a lot of pressure on Lauren and given her injuries there is probably no guarantee that she will get her DTY back. Given what we saw at nationals I doubt Maryanne can compete vault.
I personally would have put Shona in ahead of both Ashleigh and Maryanne.
Let's not forget that this team won't be performong until early October. The selectors know what is being woirked on, and what is likely to be ready at that time ... when it counts ... rather than now, when it's purely academic. Let's not write them off yet.
ReplyDeleteRibbit
Has anybody considered that maybe this team isn't supposed to be the best of the best? Worlds is later that month. Considering half of the girls on the team are very hit or miss it would be suicide to have them all compete at both events.
ReplyDeleteMM and Ash B being on the comm team makes me think that Larrissa and shona will be on the worlds team barringn a complete meltdown at worlds trials. I don't see how else they coudl justify their selections. I'ld say that Wheeler could also have a worlds spot if she finally gets all her upgrades consistent by October. Lauren is the only one that I can consider a lock for both comps at this point in time.
The only other thing I can think of to work against Shona is NCAA. It reminds me of how Sarah Lauren didn't tell Peggy she wanted to retire until after the 2002 games because she knew that she wouldn't have been given the oppurtunity otherwise.
My understanding is that Australia is sending its best team to commonwealth games. I agree that Lauren is probably the only lock for both teams but I doubt that Shona and Larrissa are anymore chance of being on the worlds team than anyone else just because they missed out on CWG.
ReplyDeleteMAM has been told she is a lock for both.
ReplyDeleteThat could be true but can anyone really be a lock for worlds considering there is another trial coming up in September. What is MAM performs sub par at worlds trials and other perform well. I think I remember reading that three more girls will join the CWG team in Rotterdam. I really think it is a bad idea to tell girls they are a lock for a team before the trial. Georgia did beat her very easily at nationals and Lauren wasn't even there so its not like she is in the top two gymnasts in Australia.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to the all the girls that are on the team and also a congrats to the ones that missed out - you are all still superstars!
ReplyDeleteFor MM to step up from under two years of not competing and dealing with injures etc, she is pretty inspiring, to say the least! Some say that they are disappointed, some say that she did amazing. As everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But I think that it shows to the girls that are injured, recovering, or hurt in the future, that determination pays off in the long run, you just can give up.
Hopefully all the girls, stay concentrated do their best and stay healthy for the big comp. Again, Congrats to ALL the girls!
I am among those who are happy for Mary-Anne and think it is great she has persevered, but at the same time I am devastated for Shona and Larrissa, as I think, mathematically and logically, that they deserved those spots and should have been given the same benefit of the doubt as the others were.
ReplyDeleteThis is a big deal in the carer of a gymnast, and comments like 'they are still superstars!' just trivializes the disappointment these two, along with Emma Dennis and Georgia Wheeler, are probably feeling right now.
I guess Mary-Anne's determination has paid off, but I just wish she had earned it with a really great performance at nationals that made her undoubtedly worthy of a spot.
Right now, there are still a lot of question marks about the logic and fairness of this selection. If anything, the only two I think do not have a question mark next to their name are Bonora and Mitchell.
Well said Anon 6.32
ReplyDeleteI think at the end of the day people just want selections to be fair and numerically supported, rather than on the whim of Peggy and her supporters.
ReplyDeleteanon 6:43 I agree with you.
ReplyDeleteMaryanne has done a great job to get where she is given all the injuries she has had and I think few people will disagree with that. But I do think she was lucky to get selected. I think maybe the fact that she is at the AIS helped, I don't like to think like that but from all reports they have been strugglinh.
I just don't think they really thought about the structure with 3 AAers+ 2 specialists very well. Also, Larrissa's bars is worth just under a fall's value more than Mary-Anne's. If Larrissa falls, she will probably score similar to Mary-Anne's normal range for a hit routine.
ReplyDeleteIf Larrissa hit her bars, not only would it be a huge boost to the team score, but she's also probably the favourite for the bars gold medal in EF. So essentially they could have just thrown away a gold medal.
Jesus selectors, look at the actual numbers and grow a brain. Such stupidity is just maddening to me.
Whats done is done, and who is picked is picked, there is nothing we can do about it! Talking about how stupid the selectors are isn't going to help anyone or anything.
ReplyDeleteGET OVER IT!
Well I reckon it's a great team. I don't think they're going to do as badly as everyone thinks. And like we say, not only is CWG months away, but this is also clearly not the team that will go to worlds. Don't stress so much that MM made this team voer Larrissa. Maybe they are saving Larrissa for worlds? They know she can pull it out there and step up to the plate, just like she did last year/ Maybe they know she just needs a little more time and that worlds is more important right now for us so they're saving her bars goodness until the.
ReplyDeleteI don't like all the MM hate either. Good for her I say. She has worked really hard and really fought for her performances in perth. They were far from perfect but she gave it as good a go as Shona did. Everyone is crapping on about Shona being sick and why didn't they take that into consideration....MM was also in serious amounts of pain and I noticed she didn't even warmup some apparatus some nights - clearly an act to save her poor battered body.
It makes sense really, that Ash B and MM would make the team. If Ash B hadn't pulled out she most likely would;ve got 2nd AA, and naturally the top 2 AA are going to have seriously good chances at making the CWG and or worlds teams. And so since MM was 2nd without Ash there I think it still warrants her a spot. At the end of the day it was MM on the silver dias and Shona on the bronze (who may not have even been there at all had ASh B competed).
I truly trust Peggy - she sees these girls perform and compete and train sooooooooooo much more than we do. She knows what she's doing. I think it is great that she is placing faith in the old veterans like Georgia and Ash. Obviously Georgia was a shoe in after winning the national title, but it's great to see that Ash is getting a go. How awesome to have an athlete on the team who also went to the previous CWG! She can bring a wealth of experience and be a natural leader. And now that she has been selected I really can see her working her butt off to get in shape and make her trip to India worthwhile.
But what if Larrissa doesn't hit? Maybe she didn't hit enough times that Peggy was like 'not taking a chance on you!'.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day MM just performed better in Perth. Maybe Peggy really was basing her selections on what she saw at nationals. After all, it was the trials for CWG. And what she saw from Larrissa and Georgia Wheeler were not impressive enough to make the team for them. MM was not impressive that much either, nor Ash, but they were more impressive than Larrissa and Georgia Wheeler were. I eprsonally think Georgia Wheeler is lucky to even have a reserve spot. She needs another good year or two tog et her head straight and get consistent. If we took her to CWG or Worlds and she performed the way she did in Perth (and lets face it, most competitions are bigger than what was in Perth so it's even more pressure and expectation placed upon her which, right now, she clearly does not thrive on), then she would be next to useless to the team and everyone would be all 'why on earth did we take her? She totally let the team down!' I'm not saying she is not a good gymnast, but it's clearly not yet her right time.
At least this way people like Emily and MM can get some experience - some good solid big time experience - under their belts and this can only be good for them for 2011 and 2012.
Spot on anon. 7.06 :)
ReplyDeleteHas it ever occurred to anyone that MM might have been selected because of what she could bring the future Australian teams?
ReplyDeletePeople keep complaining about her lack of experience...but how is she (or anyone else) ever going to gain an 'experience' if they are not on any teams?
However, in saying this...I do feel for Shona. Her premature announcement to go to NCAA may have slightly ruined her chances at making the Commonwealths Team. The selectors and Peggy now knowing that she is NOT making a run for 2012. :(
Exactly annon. 7:18!
ReplyDeleteExperience is a big factor and improvement is another. :)
Plus these girls still have a few months to get better. Peggy obviously saw potential for improvement in their performances at Nationals
ReplyDeleteI thought the team was going to be announced TODAY!
ReplyDeleteThe girls on the team have all been told
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure Shona has an agreement to start her college year after CWG and Worlds. It would be pretty silly for the college to prevent a team member from competing in such prestigious events.
ReplyDeleteIt would have nothing to do with the college. It is highly unlikely that Shona will be competing at the 2012 olympics so the selectors may have decided on gymnasts who are more likely to be around.
ReplyDeleteOlivia was selected for Beijing after it was known she was going to NCAA but that was a completely different situation considering it was the olympics which is usually the main goal and culmination of a quad.
Shona is going to Stanford in the fall - which is September in the US. So I guess it would've been either lots of rushed things happening at once if she'd made the team, or she can just do it all at a reasonable homan pace now that she hasn't. Maybe it's not a bad thing. I reckon she is pretty excited to be going to California.
ReplyDeleteor maybe she is being saved for worlds? have any official teams/squads been announced yet?
ReplyDeleteI agree that the girls selected need to be personally informed before any other announcements, however, this could easily have been done prior to say 1pm and then a formal announcement on the GA website by say 3pm. Another example of GA not appreciating or respecting the support of fans.
ReplyDeleteI don't see any reason for Shona's decision re NCAA to affect her selection, OR that it would indicate she is less likely to be at London 2012.
ReplyDeleteIf anything, it indicates her passion to continue IN the sport for at least four more years.
I can only see that as a positive.
Further, Peggy is on record as encouraging our elites to apply for NCAA, so I doubt she thinks of it as a drawback.
I still think it is unfortunate that we have to select the team so early, but given that, I think we need to trust the selectors.
AND...if previous teams are anything to go by, the line-ups may change anyway closer to the date, if "ongoing injuries" are preventing "peak performance," that gymnast may elect to withdraw.
Danielle Kelly, anyone?
I'm suprised that so many people are outraged that Miller has been left off the team. The only event she could contribute on is bars and she hasn't actually hit a bars routine in competition for ages. She has been given so many assignments over the past 12 months and so I think it is time to give some of other girls, like MM, a go so that they can get some more experience.
ReplyDeleteI can fully understand why Larrissa wasn't picked given her recent performances I really don't think selectors could have justifed picking her. Given that nationals were the trials I think that selectors have probably dsone the right thing. I do worry about Australia's weakness on bars but hopefully Maryanne will upgrade and the other girls will hit. Does anyone know what CWG organisers wanted the teams picked so early it seems a bit silly I think it would have been much easier to pick the right team in September.
ReplyDeleteMajor events like Olympics and Commonwealth Games always have an early registration date. There are thousands of athletes/coaches/officials who need accreditation, visas, etc. The only way to get it all done is to know who is attending plenty of time in advance.
ReplyDeleteThe olympic team for Beijing was announced at the end of June less than six weeks before the opening ceremony making it a month closer to the competition than the CWG. I do think that some countries announced their team for Bejing a bit later than Australia too.
ReplyDeleteI think they announced the team a little early. A lot can happen between now and CWG. Good and bad.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Peggy and the selectors had a choice but to announce the team now. I understand visas and accreditation need to be organisation but the olympics don't require the teams to be announced two and a half months in advance so I am not sure why the CWG have to be.
ReplyDeleteDo we know who else is in the team yet?
ReplyDeleteI think there is little doubt now that the team is Lauren, Georgia B, MaM, Emily and Ash. Perhaps Larrissa and Shona will be used for worlds. The two competitions will be very beneficial in terms of experience for all.
ReplyDeleteI wish we knew the worlds training squad. I would pick the extras for the camp as
ReplyDeleteGeorgia W
Britt
Zoe
Shona
Emma
Sophie
Larrissa
Assuming all could plausibly be healthy by October. Or maybe I would add in Naomi somewhere too.
Pretty sure naomi is retired.
ReplyDeleteAlso pretty sure if zoe can never get on the competition floor for the best part of three or something years she doesn't warrant or deserve a spot on the worlds training squad. Won't she be too young anyways? I don't think we will ever see her on a major team anyways. Just my personal opinion.
Sophie, GW, Larrissa, Emma and Shona all deserve their places on the squad however.
No, she is not too young. She is 1994 born.
ReplyDeleteZoe is totally international in terms of look and style, and has some great skills in the bag. Just because an athlete hasn't competed in a while doesn't mean they aren't training or putting together routines.
With that said, I don't know how severe the injury that kept her out of nationals was, but if she was going to be healthy and ready by the camp, I think she would make better use of the spot than a B string athlete with no chance.
Peggy clearly still believes in Zoe, given she has been on the Olympic squad each cycle without fail, whereas others like Emma Dennis have been left off.
Zoe competed in the AYOF in 2009 and Ashleigh didn't compete for like 3 or 4 years with an injury.
ReplyDeleteClearly Zoe has potential, but I don't think it is fair for her to take a spot from a gymnast that has been competing in all the necessary competitions.
ReplyDeleteIf a gymnast like Zoe can get onto training squads simply because of her talent and not because of her results on the competition floor, then the system in Australia is wrong and needs to be fixed.
There are seven spots left after the team so my pick is:
Shona, Georgia Wheeler, Larissa Miller, Sophie Budack, Emma Dennis, Britt and Fiona Coley.
its not gymnasts who are falling apart, its australian gymnastics in general that is falling apart...thats all i can say. if you go back to the 06 team, it had much more talent and potential, sorry to say but we need to lift our game if we want to even qualify for 2012
ReplyDeleteSophie Budack isn't on the Worlds squad. Natasha Hammann is however.
ReplyDeleteWTF!!!!
ReplyDeletePerhaps Sophie is injured as she was had major strapping on her legs at the competition.
anon 8.41
ReplyDeleteAre you sure about this? Has the list been published and if so where? I cannot imagine that Sophie Budack would not be included in the training camp. She got gold on vault and 4th on floor in event finals. She beat Natasha Hamon in AA competition. I think you must have the wrong information.
No, my information is correct. Natasha Hammann is on the training squad,
ReplyDeleteI doubt Zoe will be at Worlds camp as last i saw she was still not training at 100% that doesn't mean people should be slagging her as we don't actually see her in training and therefore only the coaches, Peggy included, know what she is capable of and i'm sure that like all the girls who work so hard she probably feels bad that she is injured and has missed the opportunity to compete and trial - hope the girls don't read this board where the comments often border on petty and mean - unless you have seen them compete or training every day then you have no idea what sort of gymnast they are and that goes for all the girls that haven't competed in a while
ReplyDeleteI think its a good team and they'll be a great contender for team gold, AA gold and a bunch of EF medals. The team was required to be picked early and I'm sure selectors took into account the many months of training left. They know more about these gymnasts than us.
ReplyDeletePeople ALWAYS complain about the team, last year it was Larissa copping it, 2008 Olivia 'shouldn't' have been on the team, 2006 everyone had a whinge because Monette was gone and it was the death of Aussie gymnastics. Seriously- everytime a team is announced I reckon about 70% of people complain. This time I'm not one of them- I think this is a great team for now and the future and I'm excited to watch the games come October!
why is there no official announcement yet!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBecause these things take time - beyond the world of speculation and gossip- there is a thing called due process. The most important people in the process - the athletes know - what difference does it make for everyone else to wait a few days. Go do something worthwhile in the world instead of fretting about something that will unfold in coming days anyway.
ReplyDeleteWell the Men's team is up so i guess people are just INTERESTED. That's what fans do - they show their interest!!!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know who is on the selection committee?
ReplyDeleteThe Selection Committee for WG is National Coach (Peggy), National Technical Director (Helen Colagiuri), National Judging Coordinator (Jill Wright) and National Program Manager (Megan Currie)
ReplyDeleteSelection committee is ....
ReplyDeletePeggy (usually gets what she wants)
Jill Wright (strongly biased towards VHPC. How else would Ash get on a team ahead of Shona)
Helen Colugari (official rubber stamp)
Selection is always a circus. The initially announced teams are always politically inspired at the outset. This assists the funding of the Institutes as they can claim to have had a gymnast selected. Substitutions for the real team generally follow.
Shona is on a VIS scholarship...So how can you say that Ash got in because she is at VIS?
ReplyDeleteFrom the AIS website - team is as already said and joining Georgia,MAM, Lauren, Emily, Ash, Shona and georgia W for the Worlds camp are Emma D, Larissa, Natasha, Britt and Georgia Simpson
ReplyDeleteSpeechless is all I can say!
ReplyDeleteAnon at 3:51 I think you're confusing HPC and VIS, the former is the training venue the latter provides limited athlete support.
ReplyDeleteThe team selection is on the AIS website, why can't it be put up on the GA website.
ReplyDeleteAll our gymnasts are good why do people always have to make nasty comments!!! They are all working hard and need our support not our criticism. Unfortunately a team is only made up of a few, so some great girls will always miss out.
There is really no excuse for GA not having the teams and squads up on their website a day after the girls were told.
ReplyDeleteUsing the things take time excuse is pretty pathetic they have had plenty of time it is not hard to put a team and a squad up.
Well done to all the girls who made the CWG team as well as the worlds training squad. It does surprise me that Sophie didn't make it she did win vault at nationals. Like one anon suggested it may be injury related.
Has anyone seen Georgia Simpson in training lately?
ReplyDeleteI am very happy to see she made the squad despite being completely off the radar for some time and I'm interested to know anythnig about her skills. She must be looking good for Peggy to have picked her over the national vault champion.
I think Natasha Hamann really impressed at Nationals and it has caught the powers that be's attention. I really admire her.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Ash made the team over Shona- at least Ash is interesting to watch!
If Sophie Budack is out of the training squad for worlds that is such a shame. I don't see why Fiona Coley would be included on the squad, since she wasn't at Nationals?
Yeah I was wondering about Georgia Simpson too! I have never seen her compete!
ReplyDeleteDoes Sophie even have the potential to compete in Worlds?
ReplyDeleteHere here anon 1:33pm!!! my thoughts exactly!
ReplyDeleteFROM AIS WEBSITE:
ReplyDelete"Women’s
Georgia Bonora (VIS – AIS Camp based), Mary-Anne Monckton (AIS), Ashleigh Brennan (VIS), Lauren Mitchell (WAIS – AIS Camp based), Emily Little (WAIS – AIS Camp based).
Non travelling reserves:
Shona Morgan (VIS – AIS Camp based), Georgia Wheeler (VIS - AIS Camp based)
The following girls together with the Commonwealth Games team will go into camp on 12th September. There will be a selection trial on 17th & 18th September for the World Championship team.
Emma Dennis (Waverley Gymnastics Club), Britt Greeley (VIS – AIS Camp based), Georgia Simpson (WAIS), Larrissa Miller (Morton Bay College – AIS Camp based), Natasha Hammann (SASI)."
Sounds good! I hope Emma Dennis and Larrissa make it to worlds!
ReplyDeleteHow many girls are selected for the Worlds Team? Someone said that Peggy will be taking 10 girls to Rotterdam, is this 5 in the CWG team + the 2 reserves then 3 from the other 5 selected for the training camp?
ReplyDeleteWorlds Team Members: 6
ReplyDeleteI feel for Sophie- to win vault and compete fairly respectably but then miss out on the training squad to someone who hasn't competed in a long while (Georgia Simpson). I hope that she's going ok.
ReplyDeleteGeorgia competed last year. Not such a long time really. Yes she has had some injuries - name me a gymnast who hasn't? Some of her injuries have been unfortunately timed (before a major comp). She has also attended recent camps and must have impressed. She is a lovely gymnast - beautiful execution and lines. Very unique talent as I'm sure anyone who has seen her would agree. Sophie did a great job at Nationals winning Vault but good gymnasts are always going to miss selection from time to time. The girls selected on this squad ALL deserve it and it's arrogant of those of you who claim to know better than the coaches who see them train year after year. I'm sure Sophie Budack is doing fine, back in training like everyone else and thrilled to be the National Vault Champion.
ReplyDeleteWhat level was georgia Simpson at at last years Nationals then? I went to every junior and senior elite session and never saw her, and I know who she is and what she looks like. But I never saw her. Ashley Cooney yes, Georgia Simpson, no. Is this because she was only level 10 last year?
ReplyDeleteAnon at 2.45- I never stated that Georgia Simpson shouldn't be there, nor did I claim to know more than the national coaches, just that after winning a national title to not make squad, while a gymnast who didn't compete and doesn't have a proven track record on the int scene (a la Lauren and Emily) did would likely seem upsetting and confusing to a 16 year old gymnast.
ReplyDeleteIts also probable that while she's likely thrilled to be vault champion she's probably not content to be just that. all these girls dream of making the olympics and to miss a national squad is probably upsetting.
Not once did I bag out Simpson (I've never seen her, she could be amazing)- just said I felt for Sophie.
Georgia last competed at national Clubs 2009 at Junior International - she came 8th AA. International Level gymnasts don't compete Level 10 they come up through levels IDP6, IDP8 and IDP10 - is this what you meant?
ReplyDeleteAnon 4:13 PM
ReplyDeleteI didn't say you bagged her, just that she did compete last year (you said she hadn't competed in a long while) and no doubt deserves her spot and that the coaches know better, most likely, than you do. If you feel for Sophie (I do too) and aren't saying others don't deserve to be there then don't make references to them. It's confusing and leads to people like me getting defensive!
I feel for Sophie too. However, it probably has nothing to do with Georgia S. If anything, Sophie wasn't picked because Hammann was. Both are VT/FX girls, whereas Simpson is an UB/BB girl. I am guessing Peggy wanted someone in there who could swing bars well.
ReplyDeleteExactly, whether Sophie makes the national team (or not) really has absolutely NOTHING to do with Georgia Simpson making it. If they wanted to take both girls, they could.
ReplyDeletePlease remember that Nationals is only one way for a gymnast to show what she can do. The girls have multiple other chances to qualify and impress, including camps, control tests, etc.
thank-you anon 6:33
ReplyDeletenationals and other competitions show what the girls can currently do and compete and you don't always get to see what's their potential and what skills and skill developments they have in the spanner works.
peggy obviously has to take all of the other things into consideration as well when selecting a team or squad
I can not believe that you all sit on your butts and criticise the girls and their efforts so visibily when they can read and see. Do you think they like being speculated about like that? They all do a bloody fantastic job and devote their entire being - give them a fair go and what will be will be. You can't the decisions regardless of how much you whinge. Support!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI assume Peggy saw Georgia Simpson training in Perth when she was there for nationals and must have liked what she saw and thats why she made the training squad. I have heard some good things about her and it is very good if she is a good bar worker.
ReplyDeleteI also think Peggy picked the right CWG team judged on what happened at nationals and that was the trial after all.
On GA website there is a sqaud announcement pending on the WAg page so hopefully they will put all the offical squad/s up soon.
ReplyDeleteAt National Clubs last November Georgia Simpson also came 4th on BB in Junior.
ReplyDelete8:17,get over it. Nobody is forcing them to come and read here. People come here to talk openly and honestly about gymnastics. Admittedly there are trolls occasionally, but in general, if athletes are competing at top level in a highly subjective sport, there are going to be positives and negative. If anything, the spirited discussion shows that people care.
ReplyDeleteMez, I think it is time this thread is shut down, I am sick and tired of couch potato so called fans bagging the athletes, or people who think they know what is happening in the world of elite gymnastics. How embarassing for other countries to read this garbage and bagging of our owm australian athletes, shame on you all
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFunny you should mention it. I intended to lock the thread tonight.
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone for taking part. I know there was a lot of spirited discussion going on and I value that greatly. I know it will continue to go on until the Games results are in.
Please understand that as blog author and moderator I felt that some comments were more appropriate, and better thought out, than others. I only hope future discussions can veer away from some of the conflict we encountered on this post.
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