Australian Olympic Youth Festival

...is coming up in January!

Unfortunately I will probably not be able to cover it because I'll be overseas for 12 days, jetting off on the 8th. I will certainly try, though, to make time and get internet access if I can. But that's not important now.


The annual (free!) Sydney youth sports event boasts such gymnastics alumni as Dasha Joura, Chloe Sims, Emma Dennis, Ben Wilden and Naazmi Johnston.

Australia's 2009 WAG team includes nationals medallists Emily Little and Britt Greeley as well as budding pee-wee champs Natalia Joura, Emma Collister and Mary-Anne "The Other Mez" Monckton. For the men's side, look out for promising Jack Rickards (from the PacRim men's junior team) and Luke Wadsworth.

Exciting stuff.

For these are the stars of the future. These are the kidlets aiming for, notably, the PacRim/Commonwealth/Worlds spots of 2010 and the Olympic slots of 2012. For the likes of Rickards and Monckton, this is also another crack at AYOF success and a chance to prove themselves as true team assets as they progress towards the senior ranks.

Such little kneecaps.

Here is a preview of some of the competitors:

Mary-Anne Monckton, 2007 AYOF floor here.

Natalia "BabyDasha" Joura, 2008 Nationals uneven bars here.

Emma Collister (and Angela Donald - not an AYOF competitor but still one to watch), 2008 Nationals vault here.

Jack Rickards, promotional video here.

Thanks to everyone who filmed at the events. Without you we would have no vision of Australia's future stars. And this entry would be a bit blah.

Don't forget, you can also see Emily/Britt at the recent Massilia Gym Cup at the "AureliaGym" channel on YouTube.


Lead us, tiny-footed ones, into a great gymnastics future!

...

... Well go on!


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You can follow the Youth Olympic Festival live (quote unquote) at the following sources, as well their official website at olympics.com.au:

Official YouTube Channel

Official Twitter Account

Become a "Fan" on Facebook