This weekend saw the return to full competition for the states senior gymnasts at the Queensland Senior State Championships. It was the first two-day competition for the athletes since the 2019 National Championships which was held in Melbourne.
The event was both the state championships and selection event for WAG, MAG and Acro athletes for the 2021 National Championships. Over 400 athletes attended including Tokyo Olympic Athlete Georgia Godwin and many senior international competitors in both the mens and women’s divisions.
Cooroy sent a strong team of 4 male athletes to compete to the event, Felix Mc William in level 8, Dean Chandler, Lyam Chandler and Finlay Jones in level 9. All competitors took part in the day one all around competition and in the second day apparatus finals.
The first day of all around competition saw many falls from gymnasts including competitors from Cooroy. The pressure of trying to qualify for National Championships and the lack of competition for almost two years led to moments of anxiety for both gymnasts and coach. All gymnasts did their best to put in a solid performance in the all around event. Despite having 5 falls on apparatus Finlay Jones still managed to finish first in the level 9 open division. In what he described as, “not his best day” he was pleased to steal a victory.
Gymnasts usually get a day’s rest between the all around day and the apparatus finals, but due to scheduling in the COVID era, the mens division was required to compete the next day for finals on the six apparatus. Level 8 athlete Felix was unable to take home a medal, but was well placed finishing 6th on vault, rings and high bar – a fantastic effort in his first senior event.
The level 9 boys had a more successful day with a better completion rate on the apparatus than on their all around day. Despite having the best floor routine on the first day and scoring a whole six points better than the first day, Lyam finished just off the podium with a 4th place on floor, pommel and rings scoring. Dean placed well on all apparatus scoring a 2nd on vault and a 3rd place on parallel bars, just missing medals on the other 4 apparatus. Finlay was able to medal on four of the six events winning rings and parallel bars and finishing 2nd on pommel and 3rd on high bar.
The Queensland team was announced at the event’s conclusion and the club will have two representatives again at the Australian Gymnastics Championships which is scheduled to be held at the Gold Coast from the 13th until the 25th of May. Both Dean and Finlay have been selected in the level 9 team with Lyam nominated as non travelling reserve. The team will resume training as soon as the COVID restriction is lifted.
Coach Greg Smyth is excited for the upcoming event where he himself competed for Qld five times during the 1970s and will work to bring out the best in the boys. He has been instrumental in lifting the boys towards achieving their goals as gymnasts and will prepare them for this years national event.
