GA confirms that Lauren Mitchell will appear on Wide World of Sports THIS Sunday.
And some things got said here as well.
"I'd rather have a team full of very good gymnasts than a bad team with one medallist.
"The fact that our team did well (at the World Championships) set Lauren up to win her medal last year, because it is very, very rare if at all that a gymnast comes from a team that isn't strong to get a medal."
And yesterday, GA also announced the following WAG assignments and cohorts:
Junior Commonwealth Games Team:
Alexandra Eade - VIS
Maddi Leydin - VIS
Emma Jane Nedov - Epping YMCA
Coach: Misha Barabach
Japan Junior Team:
Georgia Godwin - MBC
Jasminne Cassis - MBC
Coach: Sasha Belooussov
Open Levels Tour:
Level 9
Christine Bonfadini - VIC
Kenyah Lawler - ACT
Isobel Looker - VIC
Sophie Musgrave - QLD
Jessica Wigglesworth - QLD
Brianna Wong - QLD
Level 10
Natalia Bennison - QLD
Kirsty Bishop - QLD
Claire Black - QLD
Alicia Brown - VIC
Taylor Ryan - QLD
Amy Smit - NSW
Coaches:
Jackie Caldwell
Wendy Gilliver
Congratulations to all gymnasts, coaches and official for their selection to represent Australia.
Please see below the athletes who have been named on the Senior and Junior National Squad for July 2011 - July 2012:
Senior National Squad
Georgie Bonora - WAV/VIS
Ashleigh Brennan - VIS
Georgia Rose Brown - VIS
Sophie Budack - QAS
Nikola Chung - WAIS
Shar-Lee Clark - MBC
Angela Donald - WAV/VIS
Tierra Exum - VIS
Britt Greeley - VIS
Laura Hingston - VHPC
Natalia Joura - QAS
Amaya King Koi - QAS
Emily Little - WAIS
Zoe Lorenzin - VIS
Amelia McGrath - MLC/VIS
Larrissa Miller - QAS
Lauren Mitchell - WAIS
Mary-Anne Monckton - VHPC
Clare O'Donnell - MLC
Svetlana Sanders - VIS
Georgia Simpson - WAIS
Chloe Sims - QAS
Georgia Wheeler - VIS
Katie Wurth - QAS
Crystal Yeo - SA
Junior National Squad
Ebonie Boucher - VHPC
Rachel Boyd - WAV
Jasminne Cassis - MBC
Emily Conran - QAS
Emma Curry - MLC
Alexandra Eade - VIS
Grace Flood - VHPC
Franceska Fusha - WAIS
Georgia Godwin - MBC
Nicole Grout - SA
Tamika Jones - QAS
Ashley Kittl - WAV
Elisha Lai - Epping YMCA
Naomi Lee - WOD
Maddi Leydin - VIS
Celeste Loo - CH
Isis Lowrey - Jets
Kiara Munteanu - VHPC
Emma Jane Nedov - Epping YMCA
Madeleine Nedov - Epping YMCA
Desnee Richter - Epping YMCA
Stella Savvidou - MLC
Aimee Warncok - WOD
Eden Tarvit - WAIS
Please see below gymnasts who have been selected onto the GA/Olympic Squad:
GA/Olympic Squad July - December 2011
Ashleigh Brennan - VIS
Georgia Rose Brown - VIS
Emily Little - WAIS
Larrissa Miller - QAS
Lauren Mitchell - WAIS
Mary-Anne Monckton - VHPC
Chloe Sims - QAS
Jasminne Cassis - MBC
Alexandra Eade - VIS
Georgia Godwin - MBC
Tamika Jones - QAS
Naomi Lee - WOD
Maddi Leydin - VIS
Emma Jane Nedov - Epping YMCA
Congratulations to all gymnasts for their selection on to the National Squads
I ask that you observe and speculate on these outcomes RESPECTFULLY. The Anon function is still in place but I ask you to really think about what you're posting because I do monitor what goes on.
Nice interview from Peggy, it makes a lot of sense.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know they had a levels tour... I'm glad they announced that alongside the international teams.
Did you have to compete at nationals to be on GA Olympic squad?
ReplyDeleteIs that why Wheeler and McGrath aren't on it?
I can't believe seniors have been left off the GA Olympic squad and given to juniors that are not even 2012 eligible.. this makes no sense and is a kick in the back to the seniors.
ReplyDeleteAnon 8:07pm - its who Peggy want on the squad and so many seniors have been left out.
ReplyDeleteThis is ridiculous!!!!! Peggy has gone crazy!!!! The juniors will have their time after 2012... this is really a kick in the guts for the seniors........so many must be feeling so low at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThis sport just keeps amazing me, don't get me wrong I am not saying the junior girls aren't good... but this is saying loud and clear.... Hey seniors you are not good enough and we are moving past you.wHEN REALISTICALLY most of the seniors will be the 2016 girls aswell.
OMG... this sport is going to pot!!!!
ReplyDeleteThese squads are always revised...give it a few days.
ReplyDeleteso many seniors and 2012 juniors must be feeling low in this sport at the moment.... this is not a caring sport... you get the best out of people when you look after them, encourage and nurture ( many sports pride themselves on this) but this sport works in the complete opposite. They love you when you are doing well but tred on you when you are having a difficult time with injury or moving slowly.
ReplyDeleteTo me this olympic squad looks like the only girls that will be travelling overseas in the next 6mnths,worlds team already picked, is money tight?
ReplyDeleteI am confused as I thought there were up to 20 funded spots available. I don't know why you wouldn't go up to the maximum at such a crucial time in the quad.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, clearly it is bizarre to only fund 7 seniors for the August camp, especially when there will obviously be 12 at the selection camp in September.
I can understand funding 1996 girls but 1998 born? So much can change between now and the middle of the next quad, there is no guarantee you will even get a return for the investment at senior level. I don't mean this in a critical or negative sense but you only need look at the Collisters to know that circumstances often change fast.
The current senior crop is very competitive and the girls have all worked hard to stay in the sport and reach this higher level. It seems only fair that they benefit most out of the funding available.
Interesting to note Alex Eade and Maddi Leydin are listed as VIS rather than VWHPC even though VIS scholarship applications have not even closed yet. Hard to demonstrate due process to anyone else who is about to apply when the outcomes are predetermined.
ReplyDeleteInteresting also that Eden Tarvit is listed as WAIS when she isn't - way more likely to be a typo than a conspiracy. Unless Eden is at WAIS?
ReplyDeleteVIS should be given to seniors only, they don't have enough spots as it is. You can't leave seniors out and juniors in... this sends a terrible message. Wake up to yourselves Gymnastics Australia this sport has got some major problems at the moment.Remember the 2016 girls are actually the current seniors as the gymnasts seem to be hanging around a lot longer, don't push them to the side.
ReplyDeleteAnon 10:15, The VWHPC do what they like and they would have already been given one, no such thing as applications, that's just to look like they are doing the right thing. They do what they want in this sport
ReplyDeleteAnon 10;15... Ha ha what a surprise!!! not. Certain people up to their old tricks.
ReplyDeleteSomeone once told me this sport is full of inconsistencies and boy were they right, these past few weeks has proven that.
Anon 10:15 I totally agree, a waste of time applying for these things as they are picked before hand. Monckton a senior does't get a look in!!! instead an IDP10, this is astonishing... girls have had to in the past wait till senior due to the limited number. But now stuff the seniors and lets give them out early to the juniors.
ReplyDeleteReally? Naomi Lee made it onto the Olympic Squad? Sorry, but why?
ReplyDeleteAnd Amelia McGrath didn't?!
Naomi deserves to be on the squad as does Amelia , it could be a mistake that she's not in the squad. Can someone tell me what does it mean to be on the Olympic squad? Can age eligible girls not on this squad still be selected for the Olympics?
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see injured victorian juniors on the squad where injured girls from other states have been left off.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to note people's comments on this. The Olympic squad changes every six months and has alot to do with funding and there are 20 available spots so I would say that there are more names to come once the rest of the final squad for trial 2 is selected. I guess it depends on how injured the senior gymnasts are. This list will change again and again. As for the vis girls, Eade and Leydin are indeed bid - they are agreement holders!!
ReplyDeleteDoes 'funded' mean that GA pays all the expenses to send gymnasts to overseas comps? When clubs send gymnasts to compete--such as the HPC sending girl to Wild Rose this year--do parents pay all expenses?
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how many senior girls have been left off:
ReplyDeleteNikki Chung
Angela Donald
Georgia Wheeler
Britt Greeley
Amelia McGrath
Georgia Simpson
Natalia Joura
Sophie Budack
Amaya King Koi
Tierra Exum
I don't think it's very fair to these senior girls to be kicked out of their spot in place of a 12 or 13 year old! I understand some of them are injured, but that's not to say that they aren't completely out of the picture! Talk about kicking someone when they're down!
Also, I believe Emily Little is injured, however she is on the squad and others like Britt who actually competed get left off? This is totally crazy, unless the grand plan is just to get all the seniors to quit.
You do need to submit an application for a VIS scholarship too.
When girls become seniors, they should all receive some funding. They must be all talented or they wouldn't be there. If people believe some shouldn't be there then the programs are doing their job and are actually taking money from families on wrong pretense. I would hope this sport doesnt do that as it is totally unprofessional. These seniors have all put in year of training and should all be treated the same injured or not. The injured girls need physio, training , exercise programs at specialized I druthers like WAIS and VIS to help them get back from injuries obtained in the gym. Here people seem to think of you are injured you are entitled to nothing, when actually they need more support physically and mentally. So Gymnastics Australia should pick up their act and look after their injured girls not ignore them!!!!! As for the little girls they will get their turn just like the others. Yes they have worked hard but no harder than the seniors and lucky for them they have not been injured yet and hopefully won't be.
ReplyDeleteYou might have to apply for a VIS but they are already picked. Who are you kidding. This is such a dishonest sport. An I agree they love knocking girls when they are already down. I worry about they mental state of some of these girls.
ReplyDeleteThere are still 6 funded places left. Don't jump to conclusions yet. Wait and see. I believe Peggy is doing the right thing and making girls stand up and be counted. So many girls are getting things without actually getting out and competing. How many of those injured girls have not competed at nationals for quite some time. I think there is a mentality at the moment I will still get on squads even if I don't compete. I am sure some of them hide behind their injuries. I think times are changing and for the good.
ReplyDeleteThese girls were on the national squad last time but aren't this time;
ReplyDeleteSnr
Emma collister - retired
Ashley Cooney - retired
Emma Dennis - retired
Natasha Hammann - ?
Brittany Boffo
Rebecca Chong
Allyssa Kay
Rachel Lyons
Kristina Ostojic
Tiahn Pesterly - competed IDP 10 this year
Do we know if the other girls are still training?
These ones are new this time:
Snr
Chloe Sims
Jnr
Emily conran QAS
Emma Curry MLC
Elisha Lai EPPING
Isis Lowery JETS
Kiara munteanu VHPC
Madeleine nedov EPPING
Desnee richter EPPING
Epping have 3 new squad members - must be doing something right!
I think it is an interesting list. Totally agree about all the comments about why have so many places gone to Juniors in a pre Olympic year. I find it disheartning to see the same old names all the time. Brennan is boring and has'nt upgraded her routines for a long time, Larrissa was very inconsistant,Georgia also and seems to be a pressure bunny,Chloe has managed to make a come back when Peggy is desperate and Emily has done nothing all year and is she still injured?(dont understand that selection at all) I hope we don't see mass retirements.If more positions become available later, then perhaps an update from GA stating how the selection process works would stop a lot of gossip.With this list Peggys obvious choice for Worlds then why would 5 other girls even bother to trial!
ReplyDeleteHeaven forbid if one of these Seniors gets injured, GA may not have anyone left after shoving them to one side.Why was Emily selected over girls who were obviously fitter than her at Nationals. Lets face it all she offers to the Team is her vault and she has'nt competed that all year. She should have to trial like the others will have to.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I love Lauren and think she has been amazing for the sport,it would be nice to see some of the interviews and articles spread amongst the top Seniors. It seems to be "A one man Band". Im sure it's not her doing, but I am a little over it all being all about Lauren when we have many talented Seniors who work just as hard.
ReplyDeleteYes totally agree, what would happen if Lauren could'nt compete at Worlds,( I hope that does'nt happen) no one would want to cover the sport without her there as she is the face of gymnastics in Australia at the moment, which is fine, but we do have a TEAM of gymnasts that compete, not just one.
ReplyDeleteRebecca Chong has retired, the others are still training as far as I know.
ReplyDeleteThe reason our sport isn't backed is exactly because we never focus on more than one gymnast at a time. Peggy should be showing that we have many quality seniors that have great potential even if injured. All sports have injured athletes and they don't get shoved to the side.
ReplyDeleteIf all the seniors took this sports mismanagement to heart we would be left without a team. I admire their strength but wonder how they really are doing mentally. Gymnastics has a lot to answer for.
Join together senior girls go on a protest and dont go to training until they change their ways. If Peggy can screw with your heads you can do the same. At the moment she has an over supply of girls and is very cocky lets see what happens when the supply is completly cut.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand either. Shouldn't the Olympic Squad be for next year's Olympics? No matter how good the gymnasts are, why would they be included in this squad when they cannot make the team because they are not age eligible?
ReplyDeleteBut at the moment, especially considering the aus champs, it pretty much is a one man Lauren band from the PUBLICS point of view. As so many gymnasts did not compete and are relying on petitions......
ReplyDeleteYou can't really write a fluff piece for an injured "unknown" athlete.....
After nationals last year there was a senior and junior Olympic squad - although the juniors were all age eligable for 2012. Should talented 2016 be denied early support just because their event is 4 years away? I would, however, draw the line at juniors. If these girls are competing junior and beating 2012 girls then they should get the funding. I do feel for the injured seniors, but surely they would still get funding from their programs? Funding is for camps and international comps and will they be doing either while they are injured? Once they are well again - they make the squad again - isn't that how it works? The juniors who are going to compete this year for Australia need to be funded more than a senior who is doing rehab back in her gym. I don't think it is a case of dumping these girls - just that they don't belong there right now. It would help to know what funding covers - if it is gym fees then those who have paid their dues should still get it. If it is for costs associated with camps and comps - why would they need it?
ReplyDeleteMy query is that how come Chloe goes straight into the Olympic squad after only one competition. Surely she should have to earn her way back in with a few more comps and time in the National squad.I would be upset if my place on the Olympic squad had been given to her.Good on her for making a come back and she has done well but fair go!She should not be able to take funding away from girls who have been on the squad longer than her.Start at the bottom and earn your way back in not be given it after only one comp.Talk about feeding an already big ego.
ReplyDeleteGirls don't get any funding from their programs, they are not looked after. They get injured doing the sports and the parent have to pay for physio etc.... the clubs take no responsibility.
ReplyDelete"So many girls are getting things without actually getting out and competing. How many of those injured girls have not competed at nationals for quite some time."
ReplyDeleteCOUGH Zoe Lorenzin COUGH
Chloe has been given no funding from the QAS at all. She is needed in the team and I think she should be funded. There are people at the QAS that are funded but have not competed for over a year like Brittany Boffo. It is crazy. Of course Chloe should receive funding!
ReplyDeleteYeah, why shouldn't Chloe go straight into the Olympic Squad. She was born to do gymnastics. She is a huge talent and I think she will knock Lauren off her perch by the time the Olympics come around. That is if she can manage her injuries.
ReplyDeleteChloe actually lives out of home as her parents dont live in Brisbane anymore and since announcing her comeback has had to work, study, pay her own way for physio, car, nationals, leos, everything herself! If anyone, she deserves the funding ... most girls have there parents to help them out. Funding is for athletes like chloe!
ReplyDeleteI don't know Chloe, or any of the girls personally, but as an observer it would seem to me that a competitive senior like Chloe has a more rightful place on the Olympic Squad than any of the juniors who have been named who can't possibly represent their country at the 2012 Olympic Games. Are there exception clauses or rules that allow a country to use 1 or 2 juniors? I haven't heard of any and suspect there isn't given the outrage over China being suspected of using underage athletes, but I can't claim to be an expert on the rules.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that Amaya King-Koi is listed as QAS rather than MBC. I knew Larrissa Miller had left MBC, but has Amaya left too?
ReplyDeleteno they have made several mistakes on that list... amaya is still at mbc
ReplyDeleteNo Amaya is coming to QAS in August, as are the other MBC International gymnasts.
ReplyDeletegeez, it's not like Zoe got any funding. She showed a double twisting yurchenko at a comp earlier this year, did AUS V GBR and Gymnix, and competed at national clubs last year. If anything I think she should have gotten olympic squad funding over someone like Naomi Lee. Zoe is a much greater prospect than her.
ReplyDeleteHow will the new arrangement work with so many WAG elites at QAS? What will happen with the Beloussovs? What is the reasoning behind them all moving to QAS? I would have thought it's getting a little overcrowded.
ReplyDeleteGood question. Time will tell. They will surely need to get another HPC coach to cope with the influx.
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame. No denying that the beloussovs are one of the best coaching teams around. They've been apart of the great careers of Lisa skinner, Danielle Kelly, alyce Arrowsmith (3x national junior champ), jasmine Webb (junior AA champ), Chloe sims (com champ), Larrissa miller and now Georgia Godwin. They do have a golden touch in regards to what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteZoe lorenzen competed national clubs in November and internationally this year. Emily little has not competed nationals for two years and still made commonwealth games and worlds team last year. There are heaps if girls that get continued support and miss nationals why would you single out Zoe. I assume she works equally hard as other gymnasts and clearly she is showing the potential in training. How devo must she be to be injured?!
ReplyDeleteThose that think MBC are joining QAS are smoking an illegal substance. Will never happen. As for the funding, it's a changing of the guard. Juniors have important comps coming up and are entitled to be funded. The funded athletes are reviewed every 6 months so things will probably change. Enough of the conspiracy theories and lets support both our junior and senior gymnasts.
ReplyDeleteLevels are staying at MBC but internationals are going to QAS. That is what is suppose to be happening because MBC has lost it's gym funding. Maybe it is just rumor. Let's wait and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteMbc is funded by the school. Would seem strange for the school to stop funding (especially seen as in qld school sports they have lead the competition for 20 yrs). And the elite girls are mainly the reason.
ReplyDeleteIt is this school that is dropping or decreasing the funding. Other sports are doing better than the int gymnasts. Apart from Georgie good win who is not a senior yet, not much has happened since Chloe sims starred in the headlines at the Commonwealth Games.
ReplyDeleteKristina Ostojic is no longer training.
ReplyDeleteYou forget, this school is fully sel funded, how does this affect anything to do with gymnastics. Once they come of age and are ready to represent they get funded. The school is no drain on the system at all. Research would have told you that!
ReplyDeleteAnon 9.06. Your saying Larrissa miller is
ReplyDeleteNo one? Each cycle mbc has had at least two standouts in each cycle since beginning in 2002. It is a small gym. Very small!!! It can't have more then pretty much 8-10 girls max in the international side.
Anon at 9.10, Kristina is training at Jets.
ReplyDeletechloe has always been and will forever be a 1 person player.I have been in a situation where I have watched her in the past and she hasn't changed. She's an agressor and tries to scae the competiton, if she was any good she would not need to use these methods.
ReplyDeleteWhat are the mbc elite coaches going to do? Are they setting up elsewhere in Australia ??
ReplyDeleteWoah anon at 10.38 THAT was uncalled for.
ReplyDeleteI really think character judgement shouldn't come from someone who has "watched her in the past". And ANY character judgement like that does not need to be posted online.
All the girls work hard in the gym and are deserving of funding and recognition, however they are not all equally as talented. Lauren is our only world class gymnast at the moment. She is the only one we can honestly expect to make finals at Worlds. She has earned the right to be the face of gym in Australia and there isn't any other girl who is at her level. She deserves the attention and accolades she gets. This is elite sport - you don't get a merit badge for simply turning up to training each day. It is getting a little tiring to hear everyone talk about how supportive and nice we have to be about the girls when they are professional athletes. Quite simply, our current girls are mediocre on the world stage and pretending otherwise is just delusional. However, I'm sure they are all lovely girls and they are all talented. Just not as talented as the Russian, American or Chinese girls.
ReplyDeleteNot an expert by any means but do know there is 20 places on the Olympic squad, and obviously as there is not 20 people listed there are still some spots on the squads maybe to be determined at a later date? Olympic Squad gets gym fees funded and not sure what else but think International comps. Maybe that's why the juniors that are competing at Comm Youth Games and Japan Cup have been included - so that their trips are funded? The six remaining spots will probably go to those in the running for worlds.
ReplyDeleteThe Olympic squad scholarships are basically the money that came from the closing of the AIS, so that gymnasts in different programs around the country could have some of the benefits that those at the AIS received (ie. free tuition). Apparently they are very performance based and will change on a 6 monthly basis.
Again, not positive but know that some of the state scholarships (ie. VIS) do not support gym fees but are more about support services (like injury management etc). How this works practically I do not know.
Information on this was what Peggy said in a lecture back in January. Perhaps the remaining Olympic Squad spots will go to those who had injury petitions who are eligible for Worlds team?
Ed
In reading this I am soooo glad I got my daughter out of elite gymnastics while she was still young enough not to have to go through this in a couple of years time. It will always be favourites that get chosen and it starts when they are in the lower levels you would probably agree. If your child is lucky enough to go through relatively unscarred and uninjured then go for it but if you are not that favourite as I have seen scores changed for them in competitions and it will continue to happen - PARENTS GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN AND GIVE YOUR CHILD A LIFE!!!!! Don't waste all those years of sacrifice for nothing!
ReplyDeleteSo what changes have we seen since the new C E O at GA has taken over? NONE.
ReplyDeleteGymnastics is a very hard sport, and yes like in all sports there are going to be favourites so deal with it! But I do believe that all of these senior deserved a chance to be on the team as they have all put in the hard training for most of their lives and so they should be rewarded some way.
ReplyDeleteAlso wasn't there always talk about MBC and QAS joining that was the plan all along. I think its a good idea because its silly trying to have two international programs running so close to one another and it will be great to have all the coaches input into the girls. This will sort out who should be there and who shouldn't. That is what has happened since the new coaches arrived, we have seen girls leave that maybe shouldn't have been there in the first place.
anon 8:36am
ReplyDeleteOMG this is so true about them identifying someone from a young age in the squad and grooming them into the higher levels always getting attention even if they arn't particularly showing results on the competition floor. I have also seen scores being changed at major comps to make the favorites place on the day. The sad thing is it detroys families and the siblings also suffer. However trying to get your daughter to understand this and to try and make them leave is impossible as this is all they know its a second home for them and
it dosnt matter what mental abuse they receive from their coaches or how hard they train, taking it away from them is like taking their family away... so sad i wish someone had of warned me earlier.
Why would MBC close, the school would be crazy to consider not supporting such a success story and one that promotes the school. With one of the best coaching teams in Australia not only International but National.
ReplyDeleteOlga and Sasha have been responsible for the technical development of 3 of the top 6 Seniors at National Championships and have the Junior National Champion as well as the 4th place junior.
Peter and Debbie had a State Champion in every level at State Championships and the National Level 8 Champion and Bronze medallist in Level 7 as well as a gymnast selected for the Level 9 Australian Team.
Levels will probably remain with Peter at MBC. The internationals in Qld should be in one centre. Why not join the Russian coaching staff. Between the two sets of coaches you would have to get results. Not that that would ever happen. That would be way to sensible. I guess it might cause conflict between the coaches as well.
ReplyDeleteUnless they can just suck it all up there would be conflict like you wouldn't believe. Don't really know the history but I know that they don't speak to each other....
ReplyDeleteThat is crazy. Unless there is history from Russia ( in which case - maybe time to move on), there would be unlikely to be any from the last 15 years or so. They have been on opposite sides of the continent for all but the last two years. The fact that Larrissa and Chloe both moved to QAS probably didn't make them best friends but this hardly counts as history!
ReplyDeleteAlso, why do people think that 2 HPC's is a bad idea? It seems to work ok in Melbourne. There is a lot to be said for mixed stream training environments as well. At least then the girls who "shouldn't have been there" as you so kindly put it, have an easy transition to levels. Often kids at gyms which do not offer levels just leave the sport if elite isn't working out for them. Or they stay when they probably shouldn't because they can't imagine any other option.
I think it is silly to have 2 HPC's in QLD because there are NOT enough gymnasts doing IDP in QlLD. The numbers are really low compared to the other states. Look at the numbers competing in then lower idp levels. Very few compared to Vic and N.S.W.
ReplyDeleteBesides Chloe, there aren't any MBC or QAS girls that are realistic Olympic hopefuls. If Larissa makes any major teams in the future it will only be for political reasons. She is completely unreliable, inconsistent and even when she does hit, is not any better than some other bar workers, such as Monckton. There isn't the talent pool to justify having two HPCs in Brisbane at the moment. It sounds like a good idea to keep levels at MBC and have the elites at QAS.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree Chloe is the only hopeful in the seniors, but Eden and Tamika are very talented and so are some of them younger ones coming up such as Grace and Rhianna. But yes, one HPC in QLD is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteAnon 6:37 PM
ReplyDeleteGood point regarding numbers of IDP gymnasts in NSW, but there is no NSW Institute and therefore no NSW funding or scholarships that I am aware of. Any idea as to when this may change? It must be a concern for NSW parents of gymnasts. Other than moving state, what long term options do they have?
what about Wurth and Joura? Joura was the best australian all arounder at the massilia cup late last year and Wurth was the best australian all arounder at the wild rose event this year. both are extremely talented
ReplyDeleteYes they are. They must be injured.
ReplyDeleteAs previously stated, these gymnasts when injured just fall off the radar, out of sight out off mind.......... injured girls are not looked after properly in this sport. often left to their own devices and treated as losers.
ReplyDeletethe injured gilrs need to be supported and encouraged.
I don't think it's entirely true that injured girls are dropped off the radar or not supported. Zoe, Svetlana, Maryanne, Natalia, Angela etc have continually been included on National Squads, taken to camps, given overseas assignments and given VIS scholarships for 3 + years whilst being too injured to compete, or if they do compete, it's on one apparatus.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first GA/Olympic squad I've seen where they have been left off.
Injury management is the job of the girls personal coaches not the national coach. As to them needing encouragement this also needs to be taken care of in their own gyms. I agree that injured girls have a tough time but that is the nature of the sport - some coaches do a great job of motivating injured girls but most (foreign coaches) just ignore injured girls. This is not the fault of the national coach. As for them being off the radar - how could you possibly know? I bet Peggy knows exactly where they are at with their injuries and when they might be available for selection. Just because they aren't on the Olympic squad doesn't mean they aren't being followed.
ReplyDeleteEd, 12.41,
ReplyDeleteI was at that workshop too and I definately remember Peggy spending a good deal of time explaining to all in attendance the process and reasoning behind the selections. They change/update quite regularly and she would know their injuries and whether they are available to compete within the 6 months funded, or not. As funding is limited and is less than what it used to be, I think funding those who aren't injured, and leaving the injured ones off until they recover and can actually compete and use the funding, is the most logical. I'm not sure exactly what the funding covers, whether it does cover medical costs, however funding the juniors who will be competing at international comps this year, over seniors who are injured and unable to, seems a better use of funding. Peggy had some very good arguements/reasons for her decisions that she was happy to share with everyone at the workshop. It was good to be given some insight into the international selections and workings, even just as a state coach.
Some interesting funding solutions have been posted in the entry above this one - worth a look! Could make more money available to assist more athletes (healthy or injured) and funding for more athletes in gaining international comp experience
ReplyDeleteAnon 6:37 PM, one of the reasons why Queensland doesn't have the same numbers of IDP girls as other states is because very few clubs seem to be willing to be part of the IDP. There is a tendency to keep fairly talented girls in the National Levels program, even though some of them could probably do more if they wanted to and if their clubs facilitated the switch to IDP. The same reluctance to do IPD is also partly why Queensland completely rules National Levels competitions - because some of the girls should by rights be IDPs.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the difference between IDPs and National levels girls?
ReplyDeleteIDPs are pre-elite, being trained for international representation eg worlds/commonwealths/olympics whereas national levels is a domestic competition stream where athletes can compete at a very high level but one that is below elite.
ReplyDeleteThey may not want to compete at elite level due to training hours, diet requirements, extra commitment required etc, or may not have possessed the physical qualities and talent level that is required for success in the elite stream.
Not everyone can be a world class gymnast, and national levels provides a slightly more relaxed atmosphere where there is still excellent competitive opportunity and where athletes can still train to a very high skill level.
oh and I should add that here the national and international streams are separated out from the beginning of the athletes training (eg 5/6 years old) whereas in the US athletes usually compete at levels and then test to become elite. There is no separate preparatory stream for elites there so basically any athlete good enough by the time they reach level 9 or 10 can become an elite if they achieve the score.
ReplyDeleteHere it is a bit harder, as the girls who compete internationally have almost always trained elite basics from a very young age and thus the same level of quality is not easy to attain if you train in national levels early on and decide later that you want to compete in elite.
Epping YMCA is the only gym from NSW with girls on the squad, is that the NSW HP program? Notice comment there are no NSW scholarships, what does this mean, surely the girls get the same support services as other states are entitled to?
ReplyDeleteNSW has no HPC for women all club based and no support from NSW these girls get nothing except maybe Emma from olympic squad.
ReplyDeleteWhat are the support services for girls in each state and which level of gymnasts gets the use of these and pays or not? What state scholorships are there?
ReplyDeleteAre the Senior and Junior National squad numbers capped? What is the minimum requirement to be on each one?
ReplyDeleteAnon 2:49 AM, you make a very good point about IDP girls having the benefit of elite training from a very young age, but it should be noted that some girls make it to the IDP from National Levels at a later age. Both Lisa Skinner and Chloe Sims were National Levels girls for quite some time before becoming IDPs.
ReplyDeletesadly, that is only two girls. So, it does not seem the path they should take.
ReplyDeleteI think you are forgetting about Monette Russo (vic). She went to national lvl 10 (i think) correct me if i am wrong and then switched and don't forget won bronze a/a at the 2005 Worlds in Melbourne. There is probably more if you scratch the surface.
ReplyDeleteBut how can you tell at age 5 or 6 if a girl is better destined/suited for IDP or national levels? Surely that is way too early?
ReplyDeleteThere are even some level 10's now that, with some extra upgrades obviously, could compete senior.
ReplyDeleteWhich level 10's would that be?
ReplyDeletealicia brown for starters
ReplyDeletemonette russo did not do national level 10. She started in the elite program around the age of 8 or 9 yrs old. She was a product of the elite stream from what was the subjunior routines
ReplyDeleteLook, lets just be honest for just two seconds.
ReplyDeleteAustralian gymnasts are kinda crap. They aren't competitive and are surrounded by doting parents who thinks their daughter is better than the next. The girls are shielded from life outside the gym and hear nothing but positive reinforcement about their abilities. This needs to stop. We need to stop treating the girls as if they will break if they hear criticism. Take Miller as an example - she should be told that she needs upgrades and a consisten routine by trials or she is being left at home. She is useless on the other events and when we take her to swing bars she just swings right off them. Wheeler...another one that has to be told to bring her game anmd really show us what you've got instead of saying I might have a this or that. If she can't place top 3 AA at trials, she shouldn't be going.
What has happened to Milly? Another one hit wonder. Beautiful beam and then nothing.
Watching this vaguely talented girls is the most frustatying thing evert and is just a sign of how bad aus gym has become. it is an absolute shamozzle.
Isnt Celeste Loo also NSW, she is on the Jnr squad and trains at Castle Hill in NSW.
ReplyDeleteAlso do the state associations support financially any of their elite gymnasts or is any funding received just fro GA? Gymnastics NSW doesnt offer much, if any, support to the NSW elite girls programs, but i am not sure if this is normal by what other states receive.
Why should any of the girls get funding? Maybe witholding money would be incentive enough to get them all working towards getting their shit together so that they can compete internationally without embarrassing the hell out of us.
ReplyDeleteC'mon, so of these girls are just terrible and have no business competing elite. We need someone to sit down with these girls and let them know that they are never going to make a major team and that they may like to reconsider whether or not continuing is a good thing.
Basically, we just need to clone lauren. we need an entire team of laurens to be competitive and we don't even have a mini me lauren. it is scary.
I think you've gone the wrong way about communicating your points, because many of our girls are not terrible at all. It might seem that the girls are overly praised, but really, that could just be the fact that the writer of this blog obviously has ties with the athletes and is afraid to criticise even where justified, which creates an absence of any objective analysis.
ReplyDeleteOverall, as a coach myself though not in the international stream, I think the athletes are given too many opportunities when they are not competition ready. Like the disastrous Wild Rose meet where there was a fall in nearly every routine, or nationals where it is the same. If you tanked repeatedly like that in the US, Karolyi would freeze you out immediately. They just don't have to fight for it here.
Look at Miller and Brennan. They have both regressed rather than improved but who's to say no to them if they are not being overtaken by anyone else? We don't have the luxury of choice like the USA does, which is a shame because if the athletes were needing to continuously upgrade and improve their consistency to keep up with others, they would.
Some of you readers who ask why these girls need to be funded are extremely naive. Try that elite athletes in other sports at this level get more assistance and without funding to help for physio, sports psychology etc, WE WILL HAVE NO GYMNASTS INTERNATIONAL READY!!!!! you say they are crap???? Granted, many need improvement, maybe it's our training system??? They train 30 plus hours a week, get spinal injuries, have little to no social life, get no kudos from the media (sorry they are not footy players) and do it for the love of the sport. Instead of criticizing them try looking at the coaching system and make positive comments about how to fix it. The US has so many camps on a yearly basis, Colege scholarships, sponsorships, we have none. So if the coaches and parents don't encourage, who will???? Not you whiners. Why don't you spend just one month training for thirty two hours in a gym, and see if you stii believe these girls get something for NOTHING???
ReplyDeleteInteresting that some posts above have a few suggestions on how to make more funding available to athletes and programs - this money could be used to offset costs associated with elite training and travel - and they have not generated much discussion...... Only around 5 comments. Is it possible that most would prefer to whinge about the current problems in Aus gym than find workable solutions????
ReplyDeleteInstead of just blaming the gymnasts and saying they are not up to standard. why don't we look beyond and ask why? Is our selection process at the beginning flawed? I would hope our coaches could identify girls with potential... if they can't we are stuffed from the beginning.Do we make the coaches accountable in the country? NO, the blame is always on the gymnast. The gymnast can only do what she it taught and improve according to time given.( In China if the gymnast fails the coach is accountable). Do we back our gymnasts? No, only if they are achieving results, until then the girls are on their own with their parents supporting and picking up the pieces. Do we train them properly?Only if they want to, there are different rules for different gymnasts. ( Australia are known for putting all their eggs in one basket - a comment I heard while overseas). We should have a greater pool all getting experience?Yes we don't have enough gymnasts in the elite streamline... they leave because they don't get looked after. Do we hae enough coaches? NO definitely not, programs fall apart when their coaches have to travel with one gymnast and the rest are just left with with minimal coaching... Do we bow to parent pressure? My word we do, some programs are run by the parents who continually complain and demand.
ReplyDeleteI could go on and on but in reality Gymnastics Australia needs to sit down and have a good look at the programs. All the girls are talented and if given the right coaching and support they would all blossom and make Australia proud.
I agree that the key problem is with the coaching. Our girls are putting in the same number of hours as girls in other countries, yet are nowhere near the standard of girls overseas.
ReplyDeleteIs it because they are simply not capable of mastering the more difficult skills needed for success on the world stage? Are our coaches just not able to teach them? Is GA saying that girls are not allowed to train the more difficult skills? Are the girls unwilling to learn them out of fear or the thought that they don't have to to be competitive in Australia?
We are certainly not one of the gymnastics giants and never will be if things continue to plod along like this. Seems that GA needs to decide whether they want to continue training elites to compete on the world stage or whether they want to just focus on developing a fun, national system that doesn't compete internationally.
How silly, All elite girls giving up their life training over 30hrs a week for years would want to excel to the highest level possible!
ReplyDeleteAustralia needs more specialized coaches and high level coaches. The coach gymnast ratio is wrong. There is too much favoritism in this sport and it needs to stop if we want to excel.
ReplyDeleteInjured gymnasts are treated very badly, they are the ones that need the support staff ie Physio, masssage, psychology etc....that is why all senior girls should be WAIS QIAS, VIS to get the support. The younger girls will get it when they reach senior so then it is fair for all.
ReplyDeleteYes.. Programs need to stop being pressured by parents, they will cause themselves to fail if they bow to the pressure
ReplyDeleteI believe that Amelia is injured, but I think she competed beam at trial one?
ReplyDeleteThese last comments are great, let's not blame the gymnasts. Sadly, this is on a blog that is independent of state and national sites. Well done Mez for creating a forum for dialogue. Now it needs to go to higher places to start a change. YES WE NEED MORE EXPERIENCED COACHES!!!! But who will pay, how to get GA to do this??? These comments should be on state and Nat facebook pages, let's face it we all want the anonymous button out of fear. suggestions on HOW to make change???
ReplyDeletewe have far more talented gymnasts than we know about, but some will never be.
ReplyDeleteit also comes back to regional clubs too. many clubs (the overwhelming majority) are not interested in international level gymnastics. (some even will not consider even a national program, preferring to stick to recreational and state programs).
So talented young kids who show up at these clubs (initially) for a once are week rec program usually end up in national/state squads training 4-10 hours for the first 3-4 years of their career. and as many coaches know, 6-10 years of age is where thy gain most of their essential formative skills & progress at a rapid rate.
so if they are training few hours and the coaching is not of high quality, then these "could-be" int gymnasts never had a chance....
and plus, which coaches usually take the junior 1-3 squads? the junior less experienced coaches! and i am not suggesting for a second that these coaches are not motivated/willing to learn/doing their best etc. many are caring/fantastic people. but if the education/knowledge/support is not there...
also there is a tendency for some clubs to keep talented kids in national programs at their clubs rather than feeder them off to other clubs UNLESS these kids are obviously too talented for national.
anon 1:22
ReplyDeleteI could not agree with you more.
HPC should have a specialized coach for each apparatus. The head coaches should be extras so when they travel there is no real disruption to the other gymnasts.
ReplyDeleteIf we had more coaches the girls would have a more intense training program each day and then maybe they would not have to train such long hours. I don't think the UK train 32hours a week.
Gymnasts need down time something the coaches don't want to acknowledge and I think this is why we have so many injuries. When injured they don't manage them properly and many return to full training too early.
What she said +++++ (6:56
ReplyDeleteAmerican, chinese, Russian, Romanian gymnasts train 35+ hours a week & they seem to be doing ok. Not all gymnasts are Shaun johnstons and only train 20 hours a week. Cutting back on training is not a solution.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, some clubs are very short on coaches, and with experienced coaches. I myself am the most experienced coach at my gym, to whom all other coaches go to, and at only 20 I know I don't have the experience to be in that position and have a club doing national levels. I would love to have that, my club is in a highly growing area, however we have always struggled with coaches. Added to that, when I need help with a gymnast and skills, I have no one at the club to help/advise me. Resulting in me videoing, taking it to another coach at another club I work at, and then going back to the gymmnast. I do as many workshops as I can, because they are the only place I can learn, and I'm sure my gym isn't the only one like that. I would love to have someone, actually many, coaches around to learn from.
ReplyDeleteI have gymnasts who I think could be talented (not that I'm an expert at that at all), and had 3 of my 7yr olds asked to trial a couple of times at GV before one moving to a satellite program, and the others choosing to stay with me (and I wish I could train them to reach their potential, I just don't have the experience). However as we don't have a satellite program, it was by pure chance these girls were 'spotted'. And that is never guaranteed every year.
Gymnastics Clubs are always short on coaches, and those lacking a higher level coach with experience possibly are letting possible talents slip through, and then there are the parents who aren't willing to commit, which I can understand. Here, that child becomes the focus of the family, family life is based around them. Many parents are shocked when you tell them how committed the child has to be from the beginning.
These are just my experiences coming from a club that is in an area where a good national/international levels program would be fantastic, as it is the highest growing place in Aus, and has so much untapped talent. However this club has no one to take it to that next level.
What gymnasts other than the nominated Olympic squad are going to the camp this week? I thought Peggy was going to add more names to the squad after camp is this correct?
ReplyDeleteget it right...it's quality NOT quant...it's about being effecient. if u can finish ur stuff in 2 hrs per session then thats all u need. no need to do hours and hours just to make up time. when will they learn.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a positive that QLD has 2 HPC's, if the kids have only one gym to choose from it does not create the longevity we need. If we had only 1 HPC then if kids were not finding the program to be the right fit then they would have to return ti national levels instead of continuing and we lose them from international altogether.
ReplyDeleteAlso 2 HPC's creates some room for competition, within our own state. If we had only 1 HPC it would greatly reduce our competitive opportunities and it would greatly reduce our numbers. Many talented kids would not be able to pursue elite gymnastics simply because we do not have the places for them.
IDO 1-3 are not big in QLD because there are no opportunities. There is only 1 or 2 IDP 1 comps held each year, and just one more for IDP 2 (regionals) and 1 more for IDP 3 (states). Kids who start in these levels will not get competition experience. MBC won't start kids at international until IDP 5.
Also there is little recognition for IDP kids, most QLD gymnasts could ell you who the top national levels gymnasts are but wouldn't have a clue what the international scene is even about. The false idea is given that national levels is where the glory is.