At this year’s Australian Gymnastics Championships, our acrobatic gymnasts showed their hard work, resilience and exceptional talent. Our gymnasts faced challenges such as illnesses before and during Nationals. Despite this, they gave their all on the competition floor, bringing home 25 medals and gaining invaluable experience and motivation!
Sydney Hills Gymnastics had its largest team ever selected to represent NSW. Eleven of our acro gymnasts competed at the prestigious Australian event on the Gold Coast, with six athletes making their national debut.
Acro Head Coach Jillian Connor beamed with pride, stating, “We have such an amazing group of athletes that all support and care for each other deeply. It was great to see them bond even more and grow stronger as a team”.
Recognising the crucial role of support and teamwork in their outstanding achievements, Jillian reflected, “Having our cheer squad in the stands, knowing your team is there to support you no matter what, was a key factor in our success.”
Maliyah and Akasha
Maliyah and Akasha achieved a personal best score of 26.95 for their combined routine to secure them the title of Australian National Champions in the 12-18 Junior International Women’s Pair competition. They earned gold medals for their balance and combined routines, and a silver for their dynamic routine. As they prepare for the upcoming World Championships in September, their dedication to training shone through in their outstanding performance.
Elysse and Ivy
Our Level 11-16 Women’s Pair captivated the audience with their progress and artistry. Ivy and Elysse performed confidently, using great facial expressions to enhance their balance routine. In their national debut, they finished 3rd overall. They earned bronze medals for their balance and dynamic routines. Their hard work and dedication throughout the year truly showed in their impressive performance.
Catie and Hana
Catie and Hana delivered a standout performance in their dynamic routine, displaying upgraded skills including a flawless double-back tuck. Their synchronised execution earned them a remarkable 2nd place overall in Senior Women’s. The duo won a trifecta of silver medals for their dynamic, balance and combined routines, demonstrating their exceptional talent and teamwork. Despite Hana’s recent ankle injury recovery, their long-term partnership experience allowed them to shine on the competition floor.
Mio and Karmah
We are incredibly proud of the determination displayed by Mio and Karmah. Despite Mio falling ill the day before the competition and the nerves of their first-ever nationals, the girls fought bravely and gave their best on the competition floor. After an unfortunate fall during their balance routine, they quickly regained their composure and finished their competition strong in 8th overall in Level 7!
Macie, Naomi & Maeghan
Known for their ability to breathe life into their choreography through dance and standout artistry, Macie, Maeghan and Naomi did not disappoint in Level 7 at Nationals. Their clean execution of skills earned their balance routine a score of 26.50, taking out a well-deserved bronze medal and finishing in 5th overall.
Looking ahead, Coaches Jillian and Madie are feeling inspired! They are excited about collaborating with Choreographers Celeste and Miss Helen, to help more gymnasts in training to achieve their dreams and goals.
Written by Alison Landon of Sydney Hills Gymnastics