THE Queanbeyan YMCA Gymnastics Club will send 12 young gymnasts to Sydney this weekend to compete in the NSW Championships in the rhythmic form for levels three to six in two days of action.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Girls aged between eight and 14 will have their stamina and endurance abilities tested across the events, and levels three and four coach Melandri Vlok has worked hard in the last few weeks preparing her girls for what she said would be "a few hours of competition".
Gymnasts will compete in a range of events including hoop, ribbon, rope and ball, and many of the Queanbeyan girls will be competing at the event, to be held at the Sydney Gymnastics Centre in Rooty Hill, for the first time.
Vlok said there was a good chance of Queanbeyan bringing home some medals after what she said had been a positive preparation.
"The girls have been training three days per week, and the schedule has been vary varied," she said.
"We've been going through routines like ballet dancing, apparatus work, routine and strength building. It will be a long two days for the girls, so I've been trying to get them to do a fair bit of work, but without burning them out."
She said level four gymnast Madison Lustri had won medals regularly this year, and expected her to be a highlight for Queanbeyan, but she was confident the team as a whole would be strong.
"I wouldn't say there'll be any superstars as such. I think as a team we have prepared well as a whole, and a large number of them will be able to compete well," Vlok said.
"My job as a coach will be to keep them all motivated throughout the event for them to perform at their best, at the same time as giving them rest when they need it. I won't get much rest, but getting the girls through their routines will be key."