We Love You Liz

We have been left a rather sad notice in the comments.


Dear All,

I write to advise that Liz Chetkovich has tendered her resignation from the position of WAIS Women's Artistic Gymnastics Performance Manager. Liz has made this decision based on an extended reflection of not only what she has achieved in her gymnastics career at WAIS and before but more importantly what she wishes to achieve into the future.

As you will all be aware Liz has been the driving force that has developed the WAIS Women's Gymnastics Program into the leading gymnastics program in Australia and a highly recognised and respected program internationally. The personal commitment Liz has made to the program and to the athletes, staff and parents over the last 24 years has been beyond what even the world of high performance sport could reasonably expect. Liz will leave behind all the ingredients for this very successful program to remain so. I am also extremely pleased that Liz as part of her future life wishes to retain a connection to the program which will ensure her knowledge and experience are available to assist the program into the future.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for passion, knowledge and commitment to all things gymnastics and WAIS and congratulate her on developing a program that has demonstrated sustained World Class success.


Steve Lawrence

Executive Director of the Western Australian Institute of Sport

please ignore the frazzled idiot on the right.

Breaking: Dennis' Adieu

Waverley Gymnastics Centre have released an official statement on the status of senior Emma Dennis.



It reads as follows:

**************************************************

EMMA DENNIS RETIRES FROM ELITE GYMNASTICS

22nd December 2010

Emma Dennis has announced her retirement from elite gymnastics competition. After a long and illustrious career, she has decided it is time to scale back training to give full attention to her VCE studies in 2011.

Emma’s coaches John Hart and Shaoyi Jiang are very sad to see Emma retire from elite competition but are also excited for her taking the next step in her life. She intends to keep training with reduced hours and may consider competing in the National stream from time to time for the enjoyment of the sport.

The 18 year old is a proud member of Waverley Gymnastics Centre and expressed how much she will miss her club, team mates and supporters. Emma particularly wanted to thank her coaches John Hart, Shaoyi Jiang , Club Director Tanya Johansen, ballet coach Grace Yang, physiotherapists Paul Haas and Jenni Allen from Bounce, Dr Dan Bates and Dr Don McIntosh all for their exceptional dedication and commitment through the years.

Emma’s involvement in elite gymnastics would not have been possible without the support of the Victorian Institute of Sport.


Emma’s incredible career spans 7 years of elite gymnastics. Some of Emma’s career highlights include:

Competed successfully at 5 International competitions as both a Junior and Senior in Sweden, Germany, Belgium and officially representing Australia in Japan, Ukraine and Britain.

Selection as non‐travelling reserve for the 2010 Worlds team

In the 2010 Victorian Championships Emma placed 5th AA, 4th Bars, 4th Beam, 4th Vault, and 5th Floor.

Selection as travelling reserve for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Team

Emma has been Victorian All Around Champion twice as well as won more than 15 State
Championship apparatus medals throughout her career.

At the 2010 National Championships Emma placed 4th AA and on vault, bars and floor. She is the current Australian Senior International title holder for beam.

Emma has won nine National titles at Australian Championships – 2010 Beam, 2007 AA, Beam, Floor and Bars, 2006 Bars, 2004 Floor and Bars and Bars in 2002.

Emma has represented Victoria at seven Australian Championships.

Selection to represent Australia at the 2007 Youth Olympics. Emma was the highest placing
Australian at 7th AA, she also made all four apparatus finals and she won 2nd on vault and 4th on Floor.

Awarded 2007 Junior Athlete of the year by Gymnastics Australia.

Emma was first selected into the National Squad in 2006 and was reselected onto the squad every year since.

We thank Emma for her wonderful commitment and contribution to Australian and Victorian Gymnastics and wish her the very best in this exciting new stage of her life.

****************************************************

Wishing Emma a healthy and happy future, starting (of course) with a very merry Christmas.

Breaking: Dasha Takes a Bow

As one West Australian star takes a step forward into the spotlight, another is taking her final curtain call.



Dasha Joura is retiring from gymnastics, according to PerthNow.

"In a lot of ways I have some unfinished business, or whatever you want to call it," Joura said. "Obviously my career didn't end on a note that I am happy with it ending on.

"But I also feel like I'm at the stage of my life where I need some stability in my future and I want to pursue some of my other passions.

"My parents would love to have me back in the gym, but I don't think it's necessarily the right place for me."

We love you, Dash.

Very best wishes in all your pursuits from here. You were a thoroughly entertaining performer and consistently positive team member. Thank you for your wonderful contributions to gymnastics and congratulations on an incredible competitive career. You and your smile will be missed.



A brief and faffy editorial, if you will indulge me-

Daria Joura. Or, to the gymnastics world, just "Dasha". Toepoint to die for, killer acrobatic skills, a fearless competitive drive, enviable fluidity of movement, endless enthusiasm, unrivalled presentation on floor and a staredown that would intimidate captivate not just the judges but the first five rows of spectators sitting directly behind the judges. Not many gymnasts have their formidable reputation summed up by the mere utterance of their first name (and first name only). Gymnastics in Australia had a wonderful ambassador in Dasha.

I am throwing roses on the stage in farewell of one sassy, daring, unforgettable leading lady of Australian gymnastics.

Breaking: Rizzo Reneged

I have heard - just this second - on Sports Tonight that Phil Rizzo is officially out of the Commonwealth Games, his shoulder injury not having recovered in time.

Steve Quartermain then went on to introduce a Sam Offord profile piece. You can see both pieces here.

Door closes, window opens, etc.


Best of luck for a full recovery, Phil.

Edit 9:45pm: Confirmed by the Sydney Morning Herald here.

"I was going through a routine and could feel the pain in the shoulder and I knew basically there and then that my Games were over," he said.

"It had come to the point when I just had to find out one way or the other whether I was right to compete in a major competition like a Commonwealth Games."

NSW gymnast Luke Wiwatowski, 23, is set to replace Rizzo in the five-strong men's team 17 days before the Games commence.

Shaken and Stirred

Very best wishes to all our gymnastics friends and families down in Christchurch, New Zealand. Hope all are managing to cope in the less-than-ideal circumstances.

Thoughts in particular go out to Holly Moon, whose Commonwealth Games progress was updated thusly at Facebook:

"Holly's preparation for Delhi has been affected, it is difficult to get sleep with tremors coming through frequently. CSG [Christchurch School of Gymnastics] is also closed at least for another 24 hours"

With more information from the Gymnastics Coaching Blog here.

Speaking of issues, click through to read a new article about the recent WAG Commonwealth Games team lineup change. Includes statements from Peggy Liddick.

Liddick was adamant Monckton's future remained bright despite the prospect of another six-month lay-off. "She certainly won't give up - a lot of people would walk away," said the long-time national coach.

"She was actually consoling me when she called to tell me. She's a very brave girl."

CWG: Monckton Out, Wheeler In

News out of Canberra is that Mary-Anne Monckton is injured, and has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games team. Reserve position gymnast Georgia Wheeler will replace her.

Gymnastics Australia has the full details here.

The 15-year-old landed on an edge of a tumbling strip, forcing a short landing which resulted in a rupture of the ligament between the tibia and fibula (Tibiofibular Syndesmosis).

MLC Gymnastics has issued a statement here, including an update on Georgia's skills.

"... On vault, Georgia has made some good improvements with her double twisting Yurchenko, but this is certainly not ready for competition this year. This type of skill will take a long while to consolidate for competition readiness, and we are certainly not taking any risks at this stage in Georgia's development, but her sound improvement in the basics of this vault will certainly allow her a good platform for 2011."

Very best wishes to Mary-Anne and to Georgia in these new circumstances.

Another One Bites the Dust

Another elite who was making great comeback strides - former Queenslander Naomi Russell - has announced retirement from gymnastics.



Read the statement from the Victorian High Performance Centre here.

Naomi was a hard-working gymnast with powerful vault and bars skills and a striking performance style. She won two medals for Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, taking a bronze on vault and standing alongside her teammates on the winner's dais as Australia took team gold. She also etched her name alongside the exciting class of 2005-2006 with a strong international debut at the Shanghai World Cup and Australia vs Japan events. With Commonwealth all-around champ Chloe Sims and prima ballerina Hollie Dykes, she proved to be one of the best performers the Sunshine State has ever produced.



I was so looking forward to seeing Naomi make a run for another Commonwealth Games or maiden World Championships since her move to Melbourne. I hope she finds contentment in whatever she pursues, but, most of all, I wish her good health.


AGB STANDS BY ITS COMMITMENT TO FRIGGIN' LOVE NAOMI RUSSELL.

No ShoMo No Mo'

Best wishes to Olympian Shona Morgan who, it was announced today, has decided to retire from elite gymnastics here in Oz and concentrate on her commitment to Stanford University. Read the news and a statement from Peggy Liddick here.




I am sure Shona will be an exceptionally valuable asset to the Stanford class of 2011, and I hope she has as enjoyable a time with them as we have seen our other collegiate Aussies have with their schools. I had the pleasure of meeting her at an event outside of gymnastics and she was as pleasant as I'd always presumed she would be. As a competitor, she boasted difficult skills performed with elegance, and a calm demeanour to boot. With multiple state and national medals under her belt, it is no surprise that Shona's name has appeared in the Australian lineup for two world championships (three, if you count her reserve role in 2006) and an Olympics.





Shona was a Rotterdam contender and listed as a reserve for the Commonwealth Games team but, in retirement, has relinquished both positions. You can read about the rest of the Delhi team lineup here.

AGB HAS ALWAYS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO, FRIGGIN' LOVE SHONA MORGAN.

Rock on, ranga girl. Have fun Stateside.

Mitchell Out... Again

Breaking news via The West newspaper (thanks, Brindabella) and GA.

Dual world championships silver medallist Lauren Mitchell will not defend her national title next week, an adductor strain forcing her out of the upcoming Australian Championships and Commonwealth Games selection trials in Perth...

Mitchell was the toast of Australian gymnastics last year when she became the first Australian woman to medal in an individual apparatus final at a world championship, winning silver on the beam and again on floor at London’s O2 Arena.

The latest injury is another minor setback for the 18-year-old, who despite recovering from a broken hand last December, suffered another injury in March when she sprained her ankle landing short on a tumbling pass at training.

However Mitchell remains confident of being selected in the five member Australian team for the Commonwealth Games. “I’m very disappointed that I can’t defend my Australian title in Perth next week,” said Mitchell, “however I remain positive and I still have my sights set on the Commonwealth Games and World Championships later this year.”

West Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) Gymnastics Performance Manager Liz Chetkovich said that although the adductor injury is minor, it was important that Mitchell rests it now in order to be at full strength for the two biggest competitions on the 2010 gymnastics calendar. “Lauren has had a niggling adductor recently and at the State Championships last weekend she stirred it up,” adding “It’s not a serious injury. We don’t want a minor injury to turn into a major injury, so we decided to withdraw her from next week’s National Championships.

“She can jump and she can sprint, but she just can’t straddle or do a dynamic split.

“We don’t want her to compete at nationals under prepared and low in confidence.

“She’s now on a timeline to be back in shape for a full performance trial in September ahead of the Commonwealth Games and World Championships."

Mitchell will join fellow West Australian Emily Little, who starred at the Pacific Rim Championships in Melbourne earlier this year, strained ligaments in her elbow last month after landing awkwardly during a dismount from bars. on the sidelines next week.

WAIS have advised that they intend to submit an official injury petition to Gymnastics Australia, asking for the pair’s previous performances to be considered when selecting the five-member Commonwealth Games team.

Get well soon, Loz and Em!

The Road to Nationals: Victoria

Unfortunately, I am unable to attend this weekend's Victorian Gymnastics Championships. I was greatly looking forward to watching the artistic action from the State Netball and Hockey Centre but, sadly, something something something best laid plans.

If you are attending the event, I would love to hear from you! Please forward any photos, videos, reports or other nuggets you'd like the rest of the gymnastics public to know about to ozgymblog@gmail.com

You will be credited.

Woe.

Holed up with a bung foot and a bunch of lost data - very important data - including (potentially) my remaining Pacific Rim videos that were yet to be uploaded.


I just... I can't... it's not... I don't... I... buh...


DOOMED.

Double Woah

Phil Rizzo reportedly out of Pacific Rim with injury!?

And what will YOU ask rising star Georgia Wheeler?

Pretty Shoddy News

On top of the news that the acrobatic gymnastics component of Pacific Rim 2010 has been cancelled due to lack of interest (see GA for a statement), it is with much sadness and sighing that I now post the following message from Wolfie, moderator of the Aussie Gymnastics Message Board.


Hi Gym Peeps,

It's been fun, but the time has come to say goodbye to the Aussie board. We just don't have the traffic or the interest for it to continue.

If you want to keep up with gymnastics news both in Australia and internationally, I recommend the following links (in no particular order):

Gymnastics Australia: http://www.gymnastics.org.au/
- (For officially sanctioned news from GA)
GA on Twitter: http://twitter.com/GymAustralia
- (Get the goss - the recent goss on Aussie gym news)
Mez's blog: http://ozgymnastics.blogspot.com/
- (Find out Mez's perspective on things. She's a passionate Aussie gymnastics fan, but hey, you already know that. You're here!)
WWGym: www.wwgym.com
- (Understand what's happening around the world. Chat and debate with people who aren't antipodean)
The Gossip Board: http://gymgossip.com/
- (Edgy, definitely adults-only, highly moderated, but a really good source of the latest news, scores, gossip and opinions)
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6781861362
- (A Facebook group for Aussie gymnastics run by Mez)
The Couch Gymnast: http://couch-gymnast.blogspot.com/
- (An internationally focused gym blog)

There are many more, but I think you'll find the ones listed are a good start.

Long live Aussie Gymnastics!

Love Wolfie.
xxx


It is a shame, as I've always tried to direct any prolonged discussions over there.

So, in the past year we've bid farewell to the message board and the A-Z of Australian Gymnastics, two very important and entertaining webspaces that inspired, informed and nurtured this blog from its humble beginnings in 2008.

My best to all who contributed to both spaces, I appreciate the great discussions and experiences we shared. It was a pleasure and a privilege to meet some of you in person. I like to think I have some great friends standing behind me and the blog as we trundle along the dusty path of gymnastics fan reporting and spectating.

To paraphrase a late, great, author - So long and thanks for all the dish.

Owchies.

Just wanted to wish rising star Larrissa Miller a speedy recovery after what I've been told was a very recent foot surgery.

Hope to see you back out there, strutting yer stuff, very soon!

Two thumbs up:

d(^_^)b


I also hope that you all had enjoyable Christmasses. I know I did! My laptop now sits pretty on a little stable table which makes sitting on the bed and typing a MUCH more enjoyable experience!

You can check out photos from Waverley Gymnastics' Coaches Christmas Break-up at their homepage here. Looks like a lot of fun was had by all.

It's still not too late to get your votes in for the 2009 Australian Gymnastics Blog Awards! (And I'll say at this point - it's extremely flattering that some people are nominating the blog itself for the Simon Reeve Gymnastics Reporting Award but I don't make a habit of nominating myself, and I don't accept write-in votes. I appreciate the sentiment greatly, though!)

DJ to Stay

According to The West newspaper today, Dasha Joura will NOT be travelling with her Dad to Queensland. She will stay in WA to continue her university studies. She is still making up her mind about a return to gymnastics once her ankle gets the all-clear from surgeons.

I am awaiting a scan of the article. Meanwhile (thanks Misty), read the online version here.

Oh Noes!

Lauren Mitchell is out of the Toyota Cup with injury:

Please Note that Lauren Mitchell has been withdrawn from this event due to a hand injury sustained in training. Lauren was training on vault and tripped, breaking her fall with her right hand. She has sustained a fracture to the metacarpal in her right wrist. The injury will keep Lauren grounded for the next four weeks, providing her with plenty of time to work on aerial and non upper body weight bearing training on beam.

Get Well Soon, Loz!

Larrissa Miller will compete at the event without her London counterpart. Also competing will be Philippe Rizzo and Prashanth Sellathurai.