In the early part of the new millennium, super-flexy sunshine stater Hayley made a name for herself in the Australian ranks with her gorgeous press to handstand pirouette beam mount and elegant floor choreography. After representing the country commendably in a number of meets held in the USA (that also featured the likes of Monette Russo), it was a shame to see her injured and retired before really hitting the big time.
You'll be pleased to know Hayley is still at it to this day, currently working with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas as she has since 2009, with some modelling in the mix, too.
image credit: ModelMayhem.com
It's great to see that, be it some high-flying hoop and bar work or a simple onodi sequence on sand, Hayley can still wow a crowd!
Let's all process this news calmly and rationally.
The Queensland State Championships are on next weekend, Sunday the 22nd April at 5:30pm. They are being held in the Arena at the Sleeman Sports Complex, Chandler, Brisbane. Come along and show some support for Olympic hopefuls Joshua Jefferis, Chloe Sims, Larissa Miller, Dasha Joura and myself in our last competition in Queensland ahead of next months Australian Championships and Olympic Trials.
- From the official Tom Pichler Facebook page.
Update Tues:
The whole town's a-buzzing!
Luke Wiwatowski has added some extra fuel to the fire...
I had a chat with Dasha some time ago and she has been training and was looking to compete a couple (Floor and Vault from my last correspondence) of apparatus during the Queensland State Championships. I look forward to seeing whether Dasha can make an impact and from what I saw her do she should have a mean vault.
This brings up another point altogether. My responsibilities during this time of Olympic selection prevent me from disclosing any information I know about selections. The Australian Olympic Committee has the monopoly on selection announcements so I walk a fine line sometimes with what I disclose in public. As such any speculations I make about selection publicly are just that, speculation.
And as to whether Dasha is fit enough for selection, well we will just have to wait and see.
This is all exciting and fun, but in the comments section can we please veer away from really personal remarks? Thanks.
It is extremely interesting to watch the dynamics among the senior programs at the moment.
Women's national coach Peggy Liddick has spoken to International Gymnast magazine over the exciting and enigmatic return of Queensland's Chloe Sims, as our Japan Cup delegation starts to head home.
GA are talking up the MAG national championships, which are just around the corner in Canberra. After the 2010 Pacific Rim event introduced us to some new faces, Nationals 2011 will see seasoned veterans face off against the new generation, and I have to say we seem have more depth than ever before on each apparatus!
Who's ironing their excited trousers??? I know I am!
Former Queensland pocket rocket Amber Fulljames has sent AGB a nice nugget of correspondence to update everybody on her transition to performing with Cirque.
I began my journey to Montreal on July 10 for general formation, or what you would normally call "training or preparation" (but you know them French Canadians)! The training involved acting, dancing, singing, drumming and of course, the act I was training - teeter board - and fast track for 'Mystere'. Formation was such an experience, it threw me into situations I had never imagined, like pretending to be a rubix cube, doing a play in warp speed, pretending to be an elastic and making noises to my movement... and much more interesting stuff.
I left my family at home but gained a new one almost immediately, making friends from atleast 15 different countries. Formation was meant to finish in early November, however I was pulled out in late September and flown to Las Vegas to become an artist in Mystere. Lucky for me a spot opened up and they chose me to fill it. Mystere is about the mystery of life, and so it makes complete sense that my characters name is 'Spermatine'... indeed, I am a sperm! I did that for about the first 2 weeks, I thought it was hilarious but fantastic at the same time. I have also learned Chinese poles and taiko drums.
Since being here I have made another family and become especially close with the girls in my dressing room. Everyone is much older then me so I am the 'baby' of the Mystere family. The boys in the dressing room next to us must think we are crazy because not a day goes by when I don't walk out of that room laughing my head off because of something someone did or said, or more commonly (as I have learned) something I did or said.
I perform 2 shows a night and am loving the performance side of things! The teeter board team is mainly Russians, so for newbies it can be hard to integrate... but obviously not for Aussies. I joke around with them a lot and they are a great bunch!
I got to meet Tabitha and Napoleon from "So You Think You Can Dance". I also got free tickets to the Whoopi [Goldberg] show and Alicia Keys made a visit to the Montreal studios. I'm loving every second and I hope to make a visit home soon!
Thanks for the update, Amber! We're so glad to hear you're enjoying yourself on and off the stage - rock on!
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.
"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.
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.
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.
Another nice gymnastics surprise popped up on my last day in Sydney - today's Sydney Morning Herald featured on article on gymnast-turned-diver Alex Croak. I didn't realise the high acclaim in which she was held by her fellow divers, including Olympic gold medallist Matthew Mitcham.
We've all loved the fashion shots Nastia Liukin has done in the past. Well, now two Aussies are having a crack at it!
Rhythmic gymnast Naazmi Johnston and gymnast-turned-diver Alex Croak appear in the most recent edition of Cleo magazine. Ta muchly to Brindabella for the scans (click for larger).
1. Allana Slater on the LifeStyle Foodchannel's program The Best in Australia as a guest taste tester/judge. The episode will re-air today on Foxtel/Austar (check your guides or information bars).
2. Olivia Vivian and Melanie Jones having a great time at the OSU gymnastics team's retreat.
Many many thanks to Richard for a brief report from Oregon State's training session on Friday.
New recruit Melanie Jones showed a Tsuk-full vault and worked releases on bars. On beam she showed a nice two-foot back layout. She didn't have music for her floor routine but did a dance through and showed a double arabian onto soft mats.
He just missed Olivia V's floor in the session but thinks it was like the others in that only a dance-through on the floor mat was completed, with tumbling performed on softer mats offside (as above). She also worked releases on bars but did not show a vault.
As he says, it looked like they were working hard and being worked hard!
Can't wait to see their routines in the new season...
Thanks to showbizfriends.com for providing this recent interview, complete with photos and video, with former Aussie champ turned Cirque du Soleil ensemble member Lisa Skinner!
"I'm quite enjoying it right now and I love my job and my friends here. You also never get bored because every week there's a new place, people and environment to explore. However, I'm still struggling with the never ending packing/unpacking process. Living so far away from my home in Australia is also hard sometimes..."
Looks like Chloe Sims is not headed for collegiate gymnastics after all. From the Salt Lake Tribune:
The Utes have just two freshmen coming in next season, Meg Whitney and Katelyn Mohr. The third member of their signing class, Australian Chloe Sims, passed the SAT and had solid grades but didn't have all the necessary core classes to get through the NCAA Clearinghouse and won't join the Utes.
(Thanks to Swoop for the heads-up)
In addition to learning that piece of news, I was contacted by a Queensland source yesterday who told me Chloe was spotted at a Level 1 coaching course in Brisbane over the weekend and is looking like taking up a coaching position in Toowoomba, where I'm told she has recently moved (from Brisbane). She was there representing a particular club and did some skills for demonstration. She remarked that she had been out of training for some time and 'out of practise' but still performed diligently for the gathered coaches-in-training.
Best of luck to her, good to see she's still sticking close to gymnastics.
1. GA have put online an archive of their old magazines published throughout the late 80's and 90's, "Ten" and "Australian Gymnast".
I used to get these when I was younger; they were available at my gym's front desk and I hve some issues from between 1996 and 1998. I didn't really KNOW who the gymnasts were, I just liked the pictures. I cut out said pictures for school collages and decoration, rendering the magazines pretty much useless. A year or two ago, however, I cracked them out again after a room-clean (they were discovered under a pile of other antiquated things) and marvelled at what I saw (on the pages that were not sliced and/or diced), knowing what I know now. I found photos of a young Lisa Skinner and a budding Olympic team in blazers too big for them. I found a photo featuring a very very young Phillippe Rizzo (his adorable mole was as visible as ever, even when he was standing at the back of a group in a black-and-white photo) and Brooke Walker. The results lists and tables compiled at the back of the magazine gave me the most thrill - I not only found Z. McLaughlin and A. Slater and B. Walker and K. Frketic's names from levels competitions and so on. I found Alyssa Camplin and Lydia Ierodiaconou as well, when they used to be gymnasts!
2. I am having trouble uploding the first of the Beijing retrospectives (it being a compilation of Georgia Bonora's preliminary routines. Next up: Ashleigh Brennan) thanks to NBC-Universal and the whole copyright thing. I don't wish to play with fire and risk getting my precious vids deleted so I might have to start a new profile or change the file name of the .wmv *sigh*. I find it odd that there are several users who have uploaded vids with 'Olympics' specifically in the title and THEY don't get their footage rejected...
3. Not nostalgic, but youthful all the same: AYOF profiles are up, click on the name to read the profile.
Member of the 1994 Commonwealth "Fugly Opera House Leotard" Games and World Championships teams, Salli Wills recently received a big honour in the business world, as this press release will tell you.
In recognition of an exceptional career as an accomplished gymnast and coach, Salli Patricia Wills is being included in the 2008/2009 Princeton Premier Registry alongside the most prominent business leaders and professionals of every industry, from around the globe.
Good on you, Salli. Clearly, where there's a Wills... there's a way!
"Chloe comes to us with a wealth of international experience," says Marsden. "She is powerful, but at the same time, elegant. Chloe has an infectious personality that shows through in her performance."
Courtesy of GGMB sources comes this scintillating speculation...
Chloe Sims set to sign with the University of Utah's WAG team!!!???
The Red Rocks team already has some of my favourite NCAA competitors on it -Daria Bijak, Nina Kim, Kristina Baskett- so this little tidbit makes me think that if it does happen, the team just got a big boost by six kinds of awesome! Hopefully this would give Chloe a more positive spin on the gymnastics experience, as we know she was unhappy for a quite a while.
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This blog wishes, with all sincerity, to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people; the original andongoing owners of the land upon which this author lives and upon which these words are collated.
