Australia’s leading cohort of gymnasts have descended upon the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra, taking part in a high-performance camp and series of additional workshops as part of the Green2Gold2Great program.
With 39 athletes taking part in the week-long camp, it featured the likes of Australia’s top stars such as Georgia Godwin, Emily Whitehead and Tyson Bull – as well as emerging stars including Ruby Pass.
Including seven various training sessions encompassing strength and conditioning, athlete-only sessions, recovery programs and education activities, the camp provided a valuable opportunity for all athletes to immerse themselves amongst the team and continue preparation towards 2024 events.
One of the youngest members of the team, Jesse Moore made his Commonwealth Games debut at Birmingham in 2022 and has gone from strength to strength since.
Speaking to the camp, Moore spoke with excitement as indicated the team was working to build a new culture.
“This camp, I think one of the main focuses was to build on the environment, team atmosphere and really create a team both between the men and women’s team in gymnastics,” Moore said.
“So far, I think it’s been a success and we’re looking to build on that for future camps.”
The camp also marked the beginning of a new horizon for Gymnastics Australia, with the ‘Movement Starts with the Gymnast’ Athlete Leadership Program taking shape for the first time.
Delivered through the Green2Gold2Great program, the movement will equip athletes with the skills and tools required to become effective leaders – creating an opportunity for athletes to be the driving force in their campaigns.
Facilitated by Olympic rower and three-time gold medallist Drew Ginn, simultaneous workshops and camps will provide athletes with the opportunity to explore their athlete voice and create a more unified journey towards the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Embarking on the transformative experience will be James Hardy, Clay Stephens, Jesse Moore, Georgia Godwin, Kate McDonald, and Romi Brown – as they lead the charge for their respective Men’s Artistic Gymnastics and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics categories.
Another debutant at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Kate McDonald was proud to be playing a role in developing the next generation of Australian athletes.
“I never really thought I could even be considered a leader, but becoming a little bit of a senior citizen around here comes with a little bit more experience – so I feel really excited to be sharing my knowledge with the team and to you know, just try and promote a really good culture in here.”
Working hand in hand, these athletes will explore the development of their leadership capabilities and assist in the design and development of a campaign plan stretching through to 2026.
