Naazmi in the News

Leading Australia's charge at the 2009 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships will be national champion Naazmi Johnston, who has made the news here and here.

She is now training under 2000 Olympian Danielle LeRay.

Australia's team to the 2009 Trampoline World Championships (it still sounds weird, doesn't it? Like the Totem Tennis World Championships or something...) will be announced on the 17th of August.

Also named is the team to the Japan Junior International event. Congratulations to Emma Collister and Emily Little.

Maker's Mark

Cirque du Soleil's latest e-news featured a profile of former Victorian coach turned Cirque acrobatic coach Mark Calton.

(via Gymnastics Coaching blog)

For the past 20 years, Mark has worked as a high-level gymnastics coach in Australia. Our team met first met him in 1999 during the American Cup in St. Petersburg. The following year, during a stay in Sydney for the summer Olympics, our paths crossed once again, and Mark accepted our proposal to collaborate as a partner to the Casting team. At the time, his mandate for Cirque was to keep an eye on the local acrobatics and sports scenes, cover major competitions, and lend a hand during our auditions. A few months ago, Mark joined the Cirque family by becoming Acrobatic Head Coach – Touring Shows.


What is your most memorable experience with our casting team?

Apart from the 3 a.m. phone calls I used to get from Montreal (there is a 10-hour time difference to Australia), I would say it’s the true satisfaction of seeing an athlete I have auditioned go into a show and the great feedback that the majority of them give me on the life-changing experience it is. My new position also allows me to catch up with some of them. Also, the actual casting team in itself is a pretty memorable group

How is it working at Cirque du Soleil IHQ?

Working here is like being in the wash cycle. There are many things going on at once, a lot of different perspectives to be considered and so little time to do it all. I travel a lot so time here is short with a lot to do.

Which aspect of your new coaching job at Cirque do you enjoy the most?

The mix of people I get to meet and work with. They are from such a diverse range of backgrounds.

What is the biggest motivation or challenge for a coach working with athletes who will be performing on stage?

8–10 shows a week, 350–440 shows a year… keeping artists healthy and motivated, and trying to balance the demands of training and performing to allow this to happen. This is totally different from peaking for specific events, as they’d be used to from their athletic careers.

Happy Wes-day

A cracker of a montage has come up on YouTube, showing highlights from this year's national championships, set to that damn catchy Wes Carr song. And yes, Stacey Umeh gets an adorable look-in too. Nice use of the music.

Enjoy!


(Kudos to NastLiukinFan AND ChaChaKid!)

We're the Volunteers. And You Can Be One Too.

'Cause being at PacRim is the thing to do!

Download the volunteer application form here. You have until October 31st!

Chloe The Comeback Kid

Thanks to lovegym99 who not only graciously provided the video of Natasha Hammann's floor from Nationals but also...

Wait for it...

Waaaait for iiiiiiit...

...

...


CHLOE SIMS' UNEVEN BARS FROM THE NATIONAL 10 ALL-AROUND!

Which, I am sure I needn't remind you, she won.


So click, watch, judge for yourself and PLAY NICE.

Choice Cuts

Nade's latest collection of Nationals photos contains some fantastic moments (Hey look, it's Hollie!) from on and off the floor.

In other news, Australia has named its team to the 2009 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships.

Congratulations to...

* Naazmi Johnston
* Chloe Hayes
* Danielle Prince
* Janine Murray

Jaelle Cohen named as team reserve.

GA have also put up a fantastic little summary of the recent IDP clinic in Perth (complete with cute video!) where some recent and past Olympians helped out. Apparently Olivia Vivian showed off a fancy-pants new floor routine!

Two in the News

A couple of news articles/profiles about Aussie gymnasts have cropped up.


Read about artistic gymnast Karina Brooks here.

Read about rhythmic gymnast Christina Wijeratne here.

Rising Aussie Stars

Did you know...

Australia recently fielded gymnasts to the Maccabiah Games (the "Jewish Olympics") in Israel? Well then! Allow me to introduce...

Maia Avram and Stephanie Goldberg,

Morgan Baum (who you can read about here),


and Janey Nestadt!

Their Aussie team-mates included Noam Geffen, Vared Mazin and Elizabeth Zimmet.

The girls feature very, very briefly in some still photos in this montage. Seems like some lovely group displays were on show to entertain the crowd in addition to the excitement of the gymnastics competition.

Congratulations on representing Australia overseas, ladies. Hope to see more of you in the future!