Five YMCA gymnasts earn spot Gymnastics Australia Team Future Camp

The Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) Team Future Camp will be held in Canberra at the Australian Institute of Sports in May and YMCA Gymnastics Club will have 5 athletes in Australia’s top 100 attending.

To be selected these gymnasts are meeting the national standard expected on the IDEAL Skills test which sets the benchmark scores for competing in Womens Artistic Gymnastics (WAG).

Mila Blyth - Ocean Grove Primary student (12yrs)

Rose Blackhall - St John’s Lutheran student (11yrs)

Lhonegan Foxman - Bellbrae primary school (10yrs)

Mia Batchelor - Geelong Grammar school (12yrs)

Mariana Perkins - Monivae College Hamilton (12yrs)

Along with International Levels Program head coach Brenda Kent will also make the journey to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra at the end of May for 4 days of intense training with other elite gymnasts from around Australia led by Australia’s Head National Coach, Peggy Liddick.

The pint size athletes who train at YMCA Geelong’s Newtown Stadium 26 hours per week are no strangers to hard work and the 4 day program will give them the opportunity to impress the master coaches with their excellent physical preparation, determination and skill development. Coach Brenda Kent was pleased with her young protégées progress and the way in which the girls conduct themselves in training and is sure they are well prepared for the high pressure and intense training environment ahead of them in May, “It will be great to see our local talent up against Australia’s best elite gymnasts. This opportunity will give the girls insight into what lies ahead for them in their journey as elite athletes if they wish to reach the very highest level”.

The International Levels Program (ILP) has delivered at YMCA Geelong to allow opportunity for our regional athletes showing exceptional talent to achieve their full potential without having to leave the local area. YMCA Geelong coach Brenda Kent is now heading up the challenge to put the Geelong region on the map and give YMCA Geelong’s group of elite talent this unique opportunity which has previously been unavailable at a regional level.