Ava and Maeghan’s International Debut at the Burgas International Acro Cup 2026
Just over a year ago, Ava and Maeghan were learning how to work together as a new acro partnership.
Fast forward to May 2026, and the pair found themselves standing on an international competition floor in Bulgaria, representing Sydney Hills Gymnastics at the Burgas International Acro Cup.
For two athletes who have overcome injuries, setbacks, school commitments and countless hours of training, it was a moment they had worked incredibly hard to achieve.
And it is one they will never forget.
First Time on the International Stage
Competing internationally brings a different level of excitement and nerves.
After spending countless hours together each week, Ava and Maeghan had developed not only as athletes, but as teammates and friends.
Leading up to the competition, much of their focus was on consistency, execution and refining every detail of their routines. From clean skills to strong artistry, every training session was aimed at building confidence for the international stage.
Coach Jillian Connor knew the experience would be valuable both on and off the competition floor.
“The girls were definitely nervous going into this competition. However, because it was their first international competition, I think their excitement played a big role as well.”
Their first routine of the competition was Balance, and it quickly became one of the highlights of the trip.
“Even though it was their hardest routine, it ended up being their best one and something all three of us were extremely proud of.”
With that successful performance behind them, confidence continued to grow throughout the competition.
A Partnership Built on Trust
The journey to Bulgaria has not always been easy.
After both had experienced unexpected changes in their partnerships, Ava and Maeghan joined together just over a year ago. Since then, they have spent countless hours training, learning to trust one another and working towards a shared goal.
Reflecting on their partnership, Maeghan said:
“We have grown as both athletes and friends, learning how to communicate more effectively and trust each other in every skill and routine.”
Despite injuries and setbacks along the way, the pair continued to push forward, determined to make the most of every opportunity.
Looking back on how far they have come together, Maeghan couldn’t be prouder.
“Ava and I have come so far to have now done our first international competition together. I am so incredibly proud of Ava and our achievements together, and I cannot wait to see where we go next!”
More Than Just a Competition
One of the most rewarding parts of the trip wasn’t just stepping onto the floor.
It was meeting athletes from different countries, watching how they trained and connecting through a shared love of the sport.
For Maeghan, those friendships became one of the most memorable parts of the experience.
“My favourite moments were the ones where I was able to connect with other athletes from both the Australian team and other countries.”
For Ava, seeing how other clubs trained and experiencing the atmosphere of international competition opened her eyes to what is possible at the next level.
The Moments They’ll Never Forget
Every athlete has a moment that stays with them long after the competition ends.
For Maeghan, it was walking onto the competition floor and hearing the crowd behind them.
“Walking onto the competition floor and hearing all of the Australians in the crowd cheering us on. It was especially memorable when the familiar chant of ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!’ was yelled.”
The familiar chants helped calm the girls’ nerves and reminded them they had plenty of support behind them.
For Ava, her favourite moment came at the end of their Balance routine, when months of preparation came together.
“My favourite performance moment was in Balance after our last skill, as we then knew we had hit all skills.”
Proud of the Progress
The girls returned home with more than just scores.
They returned with greater confidence, valuable international experience and renewed motivation for future competitions.
One achievement they were particularly proud of was reaching their goal of scoring above 8 for artistry in every routine.
Ava reflected:
“One thing I’m proud of is achieving our goal in the overall competition, which was getting an 8+ artistry score in each routine.”
Coach Jillian has already seen the impact the experience has had.
“I’ve seen them grow not only as athletes but as young women and can see their confidence continue to grow with each competition.”
Just the Beginning
For Ava and Maeghan, the Burgas International Acro Cup was their first international competition together.
For everyone at Sydney Hills Gymnastics, it was a proud moment to watch two of our athletes step onto the international stage and embrace every opportunity that came their way.