The 2008 Olympic Cycle is a very promising one for Australian Gymnastics. Across the institutes of sport there is a level of artistry, flair, difficulty and depth in the squad almost like none other ever seen in Australia. Decorated Australian Olympian Trudy McIntosh said in a documentary once : "gymnastics has given me- lifetime friends, my sisters". In the competitive and unforgiving world of gymnastics you need to be able to rely on your friends and teammates, and this is something that Australian gymnasts do very well. Meet some of Hollie's talented peers:
Credit: Simone Alexander Hayley Wright (QLD/QAS): Hayley is very reminiscent of Alexandra Croak, her beautiful dance quality and unique style making her very popular among audiences everywhere. Her beam mount; a straddle handstand turn into a held planche always draws cheers from the crowd. She is probably the best dancer in the Australian team at the moment. Hayley trains at the Queensland Institute of Sport under Stacey Umah-Lees, and is age eligible for the 2005 World Gymnastics Championships in Melbourne.
Credit: Winkipop Media Nadia Fairfax (NSW/AIS): You can always spot Nadia on the competition floor. The talented senior from NSW aspires to be an actress after her gymnastics career and lists Audrey Hepburn as one of her idols. It shows in the flair and personality of her gymnastics and dance. Even when she doesn't do as well as she may have hoped for she never stops smiling and having fun! Nadia trains at the Australian Insitute of Sport with Hollie, under Xiao Li-Tang and Mr Yang. She too is age eligible for the 2005 World Championships.
Credit: Debbie Poe @ Intl Gymnast Monette Russo (VIC/VIS): Monette is the current national champion and leader of the Australian gymnastics Team. She competed at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and was a member of the celebrated bronze medal-winning 2003 World Championships Team. She has also competed in the prestigious Visa American Cup, for which she was personally invited. She is known for her dynamic lightness of movement and her excellent beam work. Monette trains at the Victorian Institute of Sport under Shao Yi Jiang and is a top medal hope for the 2005 World Championships and the 2006 Commonwealth Games, both to be held in her home town of Melbourne.
Credit: Winkipop Media Monique Blount (ACT/AIS): Monique was born in Washington DC but now resides and trains at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. She comes across as a very cool, calm and collected competitor and will be a valuable asset to the team on beam and floor. She is a very consistent performer and also has that lovely dance quality the so many of the AIS gymnasts have! Monique trains under Tang Xiaoli and Valery Kaladzinski. She aspires to represent Australia at a world championships and she may just get the chance to do that this November!
Credit: Getty Images Allana Slater (WA/WAIS): Allana Slater is simply Australia's most successful gymnast. She is a two-time Olympian, three-time National Champion and has represented Australia at four World Championships. In the Sydney 2000 cycle Allana and Trudy McIntosh really brought Australia out into the world arena. Allana was the first Australian gymnast to crack the top 10 in the world, when she placed 9th at the 1999 World Championships. Her passion for the sport is what spurs her to continue, and at 21 she is the veteran of the team, however has no plans to retire until at least 2006. She is known for her amazing floor work, her elegance and her absolute determination to succeed. Allana trains at the Western Australian Institute of Sport under Nikolai Lapchine and Jo Richards. She is currently out with injury and may not be recovered in time for 2005 Worlds, however she is definetly aiming for glory at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Credit: Winkipop Media Chloe Sims (QLD/QAS): Chloe is an extremely talented gymnast with a very difficult program.She has a standing arabian and a double front dismount in her beam program and difficult tumbling on floor, yet she is still only a junior. Chloe is a total perfectionist and often gets visibly emotional on the competition floor, which is why she reminds you of Allana Slater. She trains at the Queensland Academy of Sport under Sasha and Olga Beloousoov. With time Chloe will learn to master her focus and emotion in competition just as Allana did and she will no doubt be one of Australia's popular and successful gymnasts.
Credit: Winkipop Media Alyce Arrowsmith (QLD/QAS): Alyce is the current junior national champion having beaten Hollie by just 0.158. She was the reigning 2004 junior national champ and continues to be consistent in producing excellent results. Alyce is the quiet achiever of the team, always going about her business slowly but surely and almost always coming out on top. She trains at the Queensland Academy of Sport under Sasha and Olga Beloousoov. Although she is not age eligible for the 2005 Worlds Alyce is already campaigning strongly towards selection in the 2006 Commonwealth Games Team.
Credit: Simone Alexander Aleea Newton (NSW/VIS): Aleea was born in Sydney but now trains at the Victorian Institute of Sport. Although Aleea has often just missed the spotlight she has already achieved success internationally, finishing 6thAA at the 2004 WOGA Classic, 1stAA at the 2003 Gliders Invitational and 4th AA at the 2002 Pacific Alliance Championships. Her gymnastics is dynamic and great to watch; quite similar to Trudy McIntosh's style. Aleea hopes to make the 2005 World Championship team as a bars or beam specialist and will also be campaigning towards Commonwealth Games. Her motto is "never, never, never give up."
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