Gymnastics - the foundation for Australian sporting success
The benefits of participating in gymnastics are widely discussed in relation to the success that gymnasts achieve during their time in the sport e.g. building flexibility, strength, and coordination. However the benefits that gymnastics participation has in creating a solid foundation for success in other sports is not as largely celebrated.
Skills learnt through gymnastics such as fitness, balance, locomotor skills, confidence, work ethic and discipline are highly transferable to other competitive sports. In general, athletes who have participated in gymnastics at any level achieve higher results than their non-gymnast competitors in a number of other Olympic Sports.
Many ex-gymnasts have gone on to represent Australia at a World and Olympic level including but not limited to:
- Matthew Mitcham (TRP) – Diving
- Alisa Camplin and Lydia Lassila (WAG) – Aerial Skiing
- Sally Pearson (WAG) – Hurdler
- Amanda Bisk (WAG) – Pole Vault
- Kiana Elliott (WAG)– Weight Lifting
- Tierra Exum (WAG) – Triple Jump
- Declan Stacey (MAG) and Laura Hingston (WAG) – Diving
- Cory Gregson (MAG) – AFL
- Clare O’Donnell and Emily Ramsay (WAG) - VFLW
Current gymnasts who are seeking alternative pathways as their gymnastics journey begins to decline are eligible to participate in Gymnastics Australia’s ‘Spin To Win’ program for a seamless transition to Diving, Aerial Skiing, and a variety of other sports. You may even want to switch Gymsports and give Artistic, Rhythmic, Aerobics, Acrobatics, Trampoline or Tumbling a try!