BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!
Following the first Olympic qualification trial held at the 2012 Australian Gymnastic Championships, Gymnastics Australia is pleased to announce a finalist squad of 12 selected to attend a pre-Olympic training camp and second round Olympic nomination competition at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from 11 to 17 June.
The squad as follows in alphabetical order:
1. Georgia Bonora (VIC)
2. Ashleigh Brennan (VIC)
3. Georgia-Rose Brown (VIC)
4. Angela Donald (VIC)
5. Daria Joura (QLD)
6. Emily Little (WA)
7. Larrissa Miller (QLD)
8. Lauren Mitchell (WA)
9. Mary-Ann Monckton (VIC)
10. Chloe Sims (QLD)
11. Olivia Vivian (WA)
12. Georgia Wheeler (VIC)
West Australian gymnast Nikki Chung was forced to remove herself from selection after she sustained an injury to her the deltoid ligament in the ankle and a torn ACL in her knee during warm-ups of the first day of the Championships.
103 comments:
I thought Olivia wasn't eligible??
I do not approve
eligible by petition
Giving a shout out to my friend Zoe Lorenzin who was originally in the top 12 and then had to withdraw with an injury. Keep strong Zoe!
Oh that's why she isn't in it? So shattered :( totally team zoe
Such sad news about Nikki's injury. I really think she had a good chance to make this team. Hope she sticks around.
http://gymnastics.org.au/?page=24678&format They say Nikki Chung torn her ACL and Zoe broke a bone in her foot... unfortuante.
Looks like some strong contenders!
Congratulations to the girls who made the squad! Terrible luck for Zoe - hope she gets better soon. :)
Zoe's foot was sore all through Nationals - I can't believe she competed 3 days on that foot now that I know how injured she was
Zoe's foot was sore all through Nationals - I can't believe she competed 3 days on that foot now that I know how injured she was
Apparently GW took Zoe's spot after originally not making squad.
So sad that we are missing such good gymnasts such as Zoe and Nikkii and of course Georgia S . These girls deserved so much to be in this selection.Timing is unfortunate . I am sorry, so much more than Olivia. Olivia is great, but don't think a fly in fly out person is the right mix for a team that has been working together for a few years now. I didnt think she was on the National squad?
That's how GW has always got on these teams.Sadly by others misfortunes.
So sorry to hear about Nikki, yet another victim to that DTY.
Get well soon Nikki!
Good luck to all the girls selected. Think its a biit random some of those selections but then again we don't have much depth to choose from and at least it gives the selectors something to look at.
I am sure Georgia Wheeler got in on her own merit, not as second choice over Zoe. It's sad for Zoe, but realistically she has never been in contention due to her bad luck in always being injured. Her body obviously struggles with the workload. I wish her the best of luck, but too risky for Peggy.
Really every girl who is capable should be at selectionn
Great to see Georgia B and Angela there.
Good luck to all
How come Chloe can get selected with a broken foot and Zoe can't?
No actually, Zie was in over GW.
Wow, down to the last ones standing, hopefully no more injuries. HPC must be so disappointed that Zoe didn't manage to stay healthy as they have invested so much into her.
HPC have Georgia W, Georgia RB, Maryanne M all that arrived at their program as seniors from other states. Their only girl truly from their program is Ashleigh B. what have they been doing with all their other girls!
Chloe is more skill ready
Fly-in-fly-out gymnast???
So, just because OV decided to USE her awesome gym skills to her advantage & have an amazing opportunity to compete in college gym (and therefore recieve a FANTASTIC education at a world renown college) she is no longer an Aussie???
what a load of rubbish!
this RUBBISH about....."the other girls have trained so hard together, so its not fair" --- BULL!!
Olivia is NOTHING but encouraging to the other girls, she is a GOOD SPORT, and deserves her spot just as much as everyone else does!
(as does chloe & dasha, for that matter.
.... so what if they had time off?
....so what if in the past they were "bratty teenagers"?
so long as they conduct themselves in the arena as good sports, then i see no issue
(however I very much doubt CS or DJ will make the team....not because of "unfairness" or anything... but neither gymnast is very consistent in terms of hitting skiils..... yes they have big skills, just not consistent ones)
........but then again LM is not the queen of consistency neither!
i guess since olivia won bars at nationals they had to put her on, but really, i would have given that spot to Isis, Katie or Mayo who all showed routines on all four events.
poor zoe.....
some bodies are just not meant for the sport!
Georgia Wheeler did not get in due to her own merit, she got in because Zoe pulled out.
Just because GW may have taken the place of another gymnast does not mean it was not her own merit that got her to the position of being next in line.
If she got in on her own merit then she would have made the team whether Zoe pulled out or not.
Give Georgia Wheeler some credit. How does anyone know that Zoe was even selected... For the 12. And it's not just poor Zoe... It's poor all the girls that didn't get selected.
Anon at 11.13am I'm sure the HPC are dissapointed for Zoe as she has worked just as hard as anyone else and not because of any "investment" and 11.07am Zoe made the squad so clearly she was in contention - her Vault was effortless at Nationals the only stumble was on landing and that was clearly due to her foot
How unfair that GW made the squad over Amaya who worked her butt of to be ranked where she is. She beat Georgia at nationals. She is actually very consistent too. She is one of the hardest working gymnasts in Australia despite her lack of natural talent and the unfortunate delay of not getting to MBC sooner. AMAYA! STICK WITH IT!
Anon 12:09
This sport is unfair. Amaya should have been invited. But Victoria seems to always get preference
Also the team is picked this is just a process, and by the looks of it people seemed to know who was selected before the selection.
Wait a second. Isn't this about having the best possible team at the Olympics, not "giving girls a chance"?
I can just about see Olivia making the team. She has more competition and high pressure experience than any other gymnast in Australia right now due to her NCAA participation, won bars at nationals where we are severely lacking talent and has already been to the Olympics. What a wonderful grounding and supportive leader she would be for the team and could be so instrumental in our success! She does still compete all event too right? No doubt she'll be working on tweaking them to the elite code as we speak to give herself the best possible chance.
With Nikki out (that is such an untimely injury!) since I thought she had a very good chance of being alternative if not on the team I can see a team of Mitchell, Little, Brennan, Monckton and either Vivian, Brown or Bonora
I looked at the scores before and amaya beat gw and zl!
Everyone is going to Sook that they all work hard and I don't really know much about amaya but it makes sense that she would have to work super hard to be recognized by the selection committee
Oh and she beat Zoe at nationals too...and Angela on the first day. Although I am very aware that Angela has an extremly useful Beam so I am not bagging her at all. Im just so disappoined for Amaya. I know how much she worked for this. Its just very sad.
You forgot Miller! She will definitely be there!
Miller is a lock for the team. As is Little, Brennan and Mitchell... You need to pick your 5th member around that.
Guys, please try to avoid arguments.
Keep it civil.
It's disappointing that people's "favourites" might not have made the squad. But that does not mean their opportunities in gymnastics are over altogther.
It's important we support all gymnasts, no matter what event they are sent to (or not sent to, as the case may be) or the circumstances in which they were sent.
I know that Peggy does her own assessment of the competition and sends detailed reports to the coaches and gymnasts after each competition, perhaps she did not have the same ranking as the judges did, the scores were a bit out there. I think the selection committee and Peggy went back and did a true evaluation and came up with this squad. We are talking about the bottom half of the squad anyway, I think we all agree on the top half.
Noooo, so sad that GS didn't get back in time for trials. Agree that on paper Amaya did really well but she has not had the competition experience that the others have had. Would rather see Olivia on the team than anyone else making a come back. She at least shows good team skills and at least has been doing gym over the past four years even if not in Australia. So sad for Zoe and Nikki.
Still, Olympics is still about 8 weeks away, anything can happen out there which has been shown with GS, NC ZL. Please be gentle with them at camp!
Anyone know who the reserves are? i feel for Amaya too, she has been scoring very well this season, including an AA score in the 54s at QLD states. Also feel for Katie - she had the program to make it, it's just a shame she couldn't hit it at nationals.
I feel like Simpson has a good career ahead of her, I think she will be making world teams fairly easily in the next couple of years. Same with Nikki if she sticks around. Would be sad if this was it for her.
08 team to London?!
ohhh i wanted a olympic squad consisting of all the georgias just to confuse everyone
... jk
congratulation to all the girls you all deserve to be there
and to all the other girl it wasn't to be but holed your had up high you wear all fantastic
get wall soon zoe and nikki keep strong
I know for myself, I need to try and separate my personal feelings about each gymnast/their particular circumstances and what they can actually bring to the team gymnastically. Do I necessarily think it's completely fair for OV to be included when she's been OS for the past few years? Not really, but perhaps she could bring a lot to the team with her experience and bar routine. Do I think Dasha is ready for an Olympics berth? Not right now, but a lot can be achieved in a few weeks and if she gets it 'right' by then, could we really afford to overlook her? Same with Chloe. At the end of the day, I think most of us would agree that we want the best 5 GYMNASTS on the London team, despite personality quirks, time spent training in or out of the country or any other infringement we may or may not judge them on. A big 'well done' to all the girls in the top 12, and heartfelt commiserations to those who missed out through injury and whatever other reason/s. I admire each and every one of you!
Well done girls. I am very exitted to see Chloe and Dasha's name there. Way 2 go Peggy!
Excited I mean.
i dont get how people are saying its not fair for Olivia to be in the team???
She is an Aussie Gymnast!
She didn't renounce her citizenship to go compete in the USA!
No but she hasn't exactly contributed to gymnastics in Australia since going to the States either.
congrats everyone! woohoo ange!
i think its fair for the best team to be there. Whether it means having Olivia on the sqaud so be it. GW is there to make the numbers, Amaya and others who didnt make it, i'd much rather have olivia who can actually contribute internationally.
not that the ones who didnt are bad or anything, but their time will come!
A little tester to see if my ISP number has been reinstated.
Observed the voice blog has been deleted from this site since posting at GA.
Previously you have replied to criticism with immature zealous. Why the silence now?
A few deleted posts & one playing good cop does not excuse nor take responsibility for past detrimental actions,failing commitments and deceiving your audience.
Pinging as hard as you do to GA. Take heart, I may alter my stance, as you do, so readily!
Nobody is perfect. Get behind your association, the new CEO looks promising. Stop dragging this sport into the gutter with inane pettiness.
Be positive, be helpful and encouraging - nobody wishes to compete nor participate in a shit fight!
Suz
I for one am so proud of Olivia Vivian for getting back up there. She has been competing week in week out for the past four years, has been working her butt off without the support of family as back-up, and returns to country after all of that to come back for more! Respect, right there.
For all of those saying that she has not been contributing during that time... word from the US is that she has been a wonderful ambassador for Australian gymnastics during her time over there. I believe as a direct result of her success there, several US college coaches who previously would not have thought of Australian gymnasts as a recruiting source are now actively recruiting some of our gymnasts. That equals opportunity for other gymnasts to receive a fantastic experience and fully funded international education out of this sport. Stop being petty and realise that that contribution comes in all shapes and forms.
Go LivViv. You are FABULOUS!!
Somebody get the Wahhh-mbulance, there seems to be a lot of bitter people around. Let's face it - gymnastics is uber hard & these girls work damn hard & give up alot (as do their families) for their sport. Unfortunately injuries are common, usually poorly timed and ultimately cruel.
Does it really matter what path they've followed to get to this point? At the end of the day, it's got to be the best combination of five young ladies that'll come together to be the Australian team. If four of those five are Beijing veterans then it'll be because they're the best candidates for the job. They won't be there just because of their pasts...everyone has had fair opportunity to get the skills & routines together.
P.S: I love the fact people are slamming Wheeler for daring to make the squad. How dare she have nothing to do with getting herself in the training squad. It's not like she went Tonya Harding on Nikki or Zoe. It's not just about your AA score at one event...perhaps Peggy felt she had the potential to count on a particular apparatus?
Becka
"Suz" I am trying to do the best job I can running this site. What dragging into pettiness am I doing?
I am trying to keep the focus on the gymnasts preparing for the Olympic Games. That is what's pretty darn right important now and it would be silly to claim otherwise. I haven't made a negative statement about GA's work since that mishap at nationals because I haven't encountered an issue worth raising.
I flagged an issue on one night of the championships and it got explained and, to all intents and purposes, resolved swiftly. And I have had the happy circumstance of corresponding directly with Tim at GA after the fact to clarify things on both our sides and where GA is going in the future. He's lovely and the exchanges have been great. I have outright thanked GA for their handling of the issue and I haven't stopped celebrating gymnasts themselves for their performances over the last week!
If there are further comments you'd like to make about my conduct you are welcome to email me. My contact address is right there on the front page. I dare say you've got a lot more bombs to lob at me. Frankly I prefer my comments section not get bogged down in pettiness, as you put it. If you want to consistently make your comments about me and everything you dislike about my behaviour then by all means put all your cards on the table in an email.
In not trying to make the comments on this post about myself, I have had to take a brief sojourn into "me-ville" to address you because this is really getting exhausting and upsetting.
My apologies to everyone for what is clearly some weird-arse misunderstanding.
(Yes, I deleted a comment left moments after mine because I felt part of it was inappropriate.)
Maz you do such a good job on this blog keep it up
Some pepole need a life
Love the blog love you maz
Mez, I know it's easy for me to sit back & tell you not to let a few people/critics get you down, but I truly hope you are able to step away from the thinly veiled personal attacks and let it run right off your back. You do an awesome job & I appreciate the time you invest in trying to bring Aussie gym to the masses.
Becka
Thanks.
The last I will say on the the matter is-
If it's to me or about me, please email or tweet me. The details are right there on the front page.
If it's about gymnasts or gymsports, absolutely leave it in the comments.
That way everyone's happy.
Now, officially, done talking about it.
mez you are amazing!
Peggy Tv is still going strong.
9.05pm- peggy is trying on leotards and hoping to sneakily strut with the team apparatus to apparatus.
I meant to post this earlier, but I didn't get around to it, however it seems appropriate now.
Can I just say what a wonderful role model Olivia Vivian is for our younger gymnasts! Following competition (ap finals I think?) she and her WA team mates were having dinner in the tent (as were the rest of the Aussie Senior girls). Rather than getting her food and going and sitting out of the way like the rest of the girls, Olivia stayed to help the younger WA IDP girls get their food (the food counter was very high, and a lot of the younger athletes had issues reaching particularly the hot food). The food tent was pretty full, particularly with younger gymnasts who had been watching the Senior comp and most of them soon figured out that the senior girls were present, despite I'm sure being tired and hungry Olivia posed for photos, signed autographs and then lead the younger WA girls in a team chant. She was so approachable and so encouraging with the younger girls throughout her meal, in a way that the other girls were not (most of the others did their best to avoid being approached, which yes I know they had every right to do). By the smiles on the younger girls faces Olivia made a lot of their nights. It's one thing to be great with younger athletes at public events (as most of our seniors are) but it means so much more to see someone do it behind the scenes in their own personal time.
As has been said before, it is also great to see Olivia show our younger girls (and their families) that there is more to achieve in gymnastics than the Olympic Games and furthermore that an elite gymnastics career does not have to finish at 18!
Having seen how all the senior girls conducted themselves throughout the comp I can honestly say that Olivia stood out as an amazing ambassador and role model for gymnastics in Australia. She would be an asset to our Olympic team if she is selected!
That's lovely!
Off subject a little, but can someone please tell me why GA have removed the Top 12 for camp announcement.
I remember this happining also 4 years ago.
Are the names going to change?
Sorry it is there if you click on the photo but the link in Latest News has gone!
Hm... don't know why the link's off the main page but it's there if you access it via their Facebook...
People that are saying that OV hasn't done anything for Aussie gym are absolutely kidding themselves. She has represented overseas for four years! HEAPS of Aussie athletes go overseas for training and coaching... triathlon, athletics and even a couple of swimmers are based overseas. If we want to be taken as a serious sport we need to leave the pettiness behind, stop the bias and pick the IN FORM athletes to make the best TEAM.
GS probably made it over Amaya because she is better on bars.. this is where the gap is. And realistically probably neither of them have a chance to make the team of 5 or the reserve anyway. With Lauren out of bars and Ash and Emily counting it as their worst apparatus we need bar workers. Everyone on that squad is there for a reason, everyone left home was left for a reason. I think the squad is the strongest we've had in AGES! It's an exciting time for gymnastics. We only get good coverage every 4 years, let's celebrate it not get all negative.
I believe for the Olympic team, for that final spot, realistically it is between Mary Anne and Chloe. The missing link needs to be able to compete Vault, Bars and Beam. Then it will come down to consistency. And as much as I would LOVE Chloe and her potentially massive scoring ability on the team. Peggy adores Mary Anne. She will get that spot with hopefully Chloe as travelling reserve.
Did anyone catch the high performance manager on ABC News Breakfast today?
WAG Olympic team: 1 Louren MITCHELL 2 EMILY LITTLE 3 ASHLEIGH BRENNAN 4 MARY-ANN MONCKTON 5LARRISSA MILLER resereve:GEORGIA ROSE-BROWN . ANGELA DONALD
Anon 1:19 PM they haven't even begun the second trial yet.
Ouch no need to shout
Saw Lauren on tv last night as part of a Coles olympic promo ad. Nice to see gymnastics represented!
I keep seeing her in it too! But I am yet to see one where she does the spiel and the "ta-da!" at the end.
or 'down down, prices are down' lol
i reckon the aussie girls should wear leotards made out of Coles Bags and wear vegemite perfume.
As a Mother of a young gymnast it is very disappointing to read some of the above Negative comments ! I would hope when my child gets old enough to be in the possible position of being selected on a team such as a commonwealth or Olympic team that this kind of negativity doesn't exist and only excitement and positivity toward those that make or don't make the team exists . I realize as gymnastics is such a long hard road it is very personal as time money and an extreme amount of effort will have been put in by both gymnast and parent but we must all try and remember that these are young girls and any negativity with personal attacks hurts as this sport is personal so please try and be positive and excited for those chosen and have empathy for those who weren't !!
7.15pm I totally agree! Well said!!
I hope to god Some of the kids that are getting slammed here don't read this blog.
My opinion is does not matter how they get there Just that they get there.
My opinion is take the best you can get to the Olympics regardless of who they are or where they came from.
FYI The Olympic Diving team has Jaelle Patric on it, guess what she trains OS, also on scholarship at UNI!
Good Luck to the girls who made the 12! Each of you are one step closer... believe in yourself - never falter.
My heart goes out to those who did not make the 12... and although we are all focused on the olympics - remember there are plenty of other goals and milestones to aim for.
Gymnasts at this standard have to love the sport to keep on going... so no matter what make THAT the passion that drives you.
You ALL have supporters everywhere.
Cheers
Deb
USA Nationals are on this week. You notice none of them are whinging that Nastia Liukin and Bridget Sloan are in the mix over others who have stayed the course throughout the past quad??
It's called competition. You want to play with the big boys? Gotta act like one. If these comments are any indication, many of the people in Aussie gymnastics have some manning up to do if they want to get the results.
On another note.... goooo Gym Nannas! I love seeing the older girls right up there. If nothing else, it's a great example for other gymnasts that it's not compulsory to retire after your first go at the Olympics. Remember the flood of retirements after 1996, 2000 and 2004?? We've come a long way in just a few years, and that crop of fabulous gymnasts who emerged around 2005-7 are to thank for this.
It still boggles my mind that we have five members of the Beijing team in contention. FIVE. FIVE! Remember when Ash was the only remaining member of the Melbourne 2006 team to stay on until Beijing!?
This is fantastic and I wish them all the best.
Actually, I have read several negative comments about Nastia, ASac and Bridget (plus Johnson before retiring, and Memmel before her petition for Nationals was declined)making comebacks, so it's not just in this country/on this blog.
I, for one, just want to see the best team represent Australia, regardless of age or anything else.
Yes there are negative comments about them - as there were back in 2008, goes with the territory. What you won't see are comments stating it isn't fair that they are back training and trying to make this team. Mostly the comments were about them not leaving enough time to get back up to standard.
I for one think nastia is more about the fame, she may love gymnastics but she just wants to win
Go youngins or oldies that didn't announce their return when the team won gold!!
and the comments just keep getting nastia........ :-/
Me thinks - All in, then all deserve that chance to win. ;-)
Interesting to read yesterday on TCG quickhits from day 1 of Visas about Lauren Mitchells 'bullsh*t' leaps out of her floor tumbles. Was glad to see a couple of comments in reply defending her. Go Loz!!!
*Mitchell's
Americans have been sledging Lauren's leaps for years. A lot of people don't like the way they take advantage of the code. Plenty of others defend them regularly, stating that others could do the same thing if they were able. I don't particularly like the fact that she leaps out of everything - but when she nails it I do! I see it as more of an issue with the code than with Lauren.
code-whoring is alive and well and the only ones to blame for that are the FIG so everyone should stop bagging out the gymnasts.
Well done Wheeler.
So sick of people ragging on you over the years when you are just going out there doing your thing and chasing your dream. 12th, 13th or even 20th spot in the Aus selection rankings out of a population of over 20 million, and in what I consider to be the hardest sport in the world to master, is a great achievement.
Everyone is absolutely entitled to an opinion and for the most part the critiques of George are close to correct. However when that opinion is hiding under an anonymous title then, to me, it is just a cowardly cheap shot. If her critics actually knew how she has gotten to where she is without the 'natural' gymnastic ability of a Monckton or a Joura, just on raw power and pure 100% effort, they might just shut their mouths.
So congratulations Georgia, congratulations to all the girls on the team, and to those who didn't make it (or worse are missing out due to injury - Nik and Zoe my heart goes out to you) - well done for sacrificing 30+ hours a week for most of your lives to at least get the opportunity to give it a go.
Good luck team Australia!!
Hold your head high Georgia W, there are many out here that love your style of gymnastics; your first tumble line gives me goosebumps and your height on bars..just amazing.
i love GWheels too - she's awesome!
Just thinking about the top 12 at camp. Stay safe and all the best.
Nicely said Jeb
Does anyone know if Dasha made it to camp ?
Well she was named on the squad.... Is there a question as to whether she chose to go? How good would it be to get some actual news and video from camp - USAG have started to do this much to the delight of the US fans.
I think GA could learn a lot from USAG in general. And a good start would be to give out even small snippets of info/progress reports from camps etc. Videos would also be a huge bonus. USA gym fans have it so good!!
do you expect the coaches to video the gymnasts and put it up on the web? honestly, they are not there for your entertainment, they have a job to do, as do the gymnasts. ga could perhaps pay one of you to do this. just put your name up to them, they might take you up on your offer.
Interesting how only friends and family are likely to be able to watch the trial.
Wow, defensive much? The coaches aren't there for our entertainment?? Gee, I never would have known that *rolls eyes*
Since when is it a crime to have an opinion or express an opinion? I don't see anyone here saying anything about expecting the coaches the give updates or post videos. Seems most of the USA updates/vidoes are done by a family member, a friend or a fan at open training sessions/events. The fact that gymnastics followers like myself are genuinely interested is actually a good thing.
*videos sorry
i don't think it's asking too much to want to know more about our national team gymnasts. we want to know because we care and are passionate about the sport we love.
What's the best online site to find out more about the US gymn team?
What I have found, through following this blog for a while now, is that the second something official comes out from GA, Peggy or anyone associated with the national team, someone on this blog has to bash them, criticize them or generally create negativity. So, I ask, why would anyone voluntarily ask for a public flogging. Sometimes, it is best, to just keep your nose to the grindstone and let your results speak for yourself. Just food for thought. You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
any news out of camp?
Can't wait to find out which way the puzzle pieces come together with the team for London. Any day now! I tell ya what, the anticipation is killing me!
Ditto
Any news from camp anyone???
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