TEN years of hard work and dedication to gymnastics has paid off for Kaylan Moloney who in May will head to the sport’s national championship.
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It is the first time the 12 year old from Coal Point has made the cut for the Australian National Gymnastics Championships.
And it is one Moloney’s long-time coach, Nance Foster, owner of Advance Academy of Gymnastics in Toronto, said she is incredibly proud of.
“It’s exciting for her,” Foster said. “She’s had a rough run in the past couple of months.
“She’s had mental blocks on certain skills which we have worked to push through. She’s a strong little kid, a good kid that has worked hard since she was a 2 year old in kingergym.
“This goes to show what happens when you stick with it. Ten years down the track she’s headed to nationals.”
Foster added that Moloney’s selection was extra special as the talented 12 year old is the coach’s first level seven gymnast and the first heading to nationals.
Moloney has made the level seven NSW team that will compete at the national championship, to be held in Melbourne from May 23.
Blackert Gymnastics Academy in Bennetts Green, which has close ties with Foster’s academy, has also had success. Five of its girls have been selected for nationals.
The academy’s Aphra O’Brien-Slade, 15, and Jasmine Fischbeck, 17, will compete at nationals in NSW’s level 10 team. Jorgie Hills, 14, and Edan Shorten, 13, will compete in level eight while Emma McGrath, 12, will compete in level seven alongside Moloney.
“We get kids in every years, but this is the most we’ve had at one time go,” coach Helen Blackert said.
“Previously we’ve had three at a time, this year we’ll have five. They’re all very dedicated, work hard, put in 18 hours a week.
O’Brien-Slade, Hills and Shorten are expected to place in their levels after doing so at nationals last year.
Blackert said she also held high hopes that Fischbeck and McGrath in their first nationals appearances would also do well and place in their respective levels.
“The girls that placed last year are looking to build on their result and the two other girls have a decent shot at placing at nationals as well,” Blackert said.