Acrobatic gymnasts get a taste for success ahead of worlds

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Updated: March 2, 2016

HAVING gotten a taste of international competition – and Belgian chocolates – from competing at the the Flanders International Acro Cup held in Puurs, five athletes from the Sydney Gymnastics and Aquatic Centre will travel to China later this month as part of the Australian team contesting the 2016 World Age Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships.

While Lauren Cosgrove, 19, will represent her country at the world titles for the third time, Jillian Connor, 14, Sarah Hemmings, 17, Ethan Burton, 17, and Ebony McLean, 11, will take part in their first when the event begins on March 23 in Putian.

Coached by Rebecca Buffrey and Morgan Jansson as part of the Rooty Hill-based club’s Elite Acrobatics program, Cosgrove, Connor and Hemmings will compete in the 13-19-years women’s trio division, while Burton and McLean will compete in the 12-18-years mixed pair category.

Jansson told Youth Sport Australia the five “currently train five days a week and two mornings – while fitting in school and university commitments” in preparation for the 25th edition of the world championships.

They will head to China with great confidence after impressive displays in Belgium, where Burton and McLean came away with a silver medal – an incredible result considering they had only been competing together for a short time.

Despite captivating their audience with their own graceful and newly choreographed routine, Cosgrove, Connor and Hemmings narrowly missed a place in the final, though they gained valuable competition experience.

“This type of international experience is so important for our gymnasts’ development and, again, they have definitely made SGAC proud with their dedication, competitive spirit and success,” Jansson explained.

“At the conclusion of the event, the team made the 27-hour long haul home with a new network of friends and a wealth of experience and knowledge …not to mention, copious amounts of Belgian chocolates in their bags.”

Though not an Olympic sport, acrobatic gymnastics is incredibly popular due to its dynamic routines, some of which were performed in between events at the London 2012 Games, and during the opening and closing ceremonies.

The Sydney Gymnastics and Aquatic Centre Elite Acrobatics team will be holding a fundraising trivia night for its five athletes on Saturday, March 12 at 91a Bungarribee Rd Blacktown. Final bookings by Tuesday, March 8, via Elena Connor, email elena_connor@y7mail.com or 0428 304 065.

CLICK here for the full national acrobatic gymnastics squad.