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Australia name gymnastics team

Australia name gymnastics team

10/07/2008 9:23 PM

Australia has selected nine gymnasts to compete across all three disciplines at the Beijing Olympic Games.

With only one previous gymnastics medal, Australia is confident this team can add to that tally.

The women's artistic team carries Australia's best chance at medal, while on trampoline Ben Wilden will strive to match the successful moves of silver medallist Ji Wallace

Naazmi Johnston and Sam Simpson will both make their Olympic debut in rhythmic gymnastics and artistic respectively.

Three-time national champion Daria Joura will lead the women's artistic team and the 18-year-old can't wait for the Games to begin.

"It is definitely a relief to have the team officially named. We have all worked on this for a long time. Finally after all the training the Games are here," Joura said.

"The qualification day is the be-all and end-all. Hopefully we will get it together this time after the disappointment of the 2007 World Championships and show our best to get into the top eight."

"We are capable of getting there and gymnastics is a sport where anything can happen."

Wilden made history in 2007 when he won Australia's first ever gold medal in a World Cup in the synchronised trampoline with partner Scott Brown.

Making his Olympic debut, 23-year-old will draw experience from competing at the 2001 and 2003 Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

Johnston will be looking to improve on Australia's best performance in rhythmic gymnastics, a 19th placing by Danielle Leray in Sydney 2000.

The all around national champion from 1999 to 2003, Johnston has competed in two Wold Championships and the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

In the men's artistic gymnastics, Queenslander Sam Simpson is the lone representative after the men failed to qualify a team at the 2007 World Championships.

Australian Olympic Gymnastics Team:
Georgia Bonora
Ashleigh Brennan
Naazmi Johnston
Daria Joura
Lauren Mitchell
Shona Morgan
Sam Simpson
Olivia Vivian
Ben Wilden

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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