Dubbed the A Team, Sophie Dunbar, Shayla Winwood-Smith, Victoria Barrie, Aimee Nicholls, Roxy George, Abby Hall and Emilee Howarth all represented the Bathurst-based gym at the Sydney Gymnastics and Aquatics Centre in Rooty Hill.

Aspire coach Sophie Godleman said the students performed well, considering the circumstances.

“We originally had a team of nine competing but two pulled out,” she explained.

“We had to alter the routine. We swapped a few tactics around.

“I’m proud of how they went considering we changed it around only a day or two before the event.” 

At the championships, teams received medals based on rank. 

To achieve gold, a score between 25.5 to 30 is required, 21 to 25.45 for silver and zero to 20.99 for bronze.

“[TeamGym] is different to what we normally,” she said.

“It’s only our second year. It’s an event where you have to have a group of up to 12 gymnasts. They perform in tumbling, floor and tramp.”

TeamGym is a form of competition created by the European Union of Gymnastics and the first official competition was held in Finland in 1996.

TeamGym competition consists of three different disciplines – floor, tumbling and single mini tramp. 

Each team performs four different passes – two single runs and two synchronised runs. 

In each discipline the number of gymnasts is between six and 12. 

“It’s quite a different format to what we’re normally use to it but it’s exciting and it’s really inclusive,” Godleman said.

“People always interpret performances differently. It’s always fun to watch what other clubs are doing and it’s cool to see how they are interpreting each others performances.” 

The students had nine different judges overseeing the performances.

The students qualified for the championships by their performances at the regional championships, in Orange, on October 14 and 15.

Aspire finished in second across the region, as 64 gymnasts competed across gymnastics, tumbling and TeamGym. 

While both performances were outstanding, Godleman said the performance at the state championships was more impressive.

“We did better a state considering the change to our routine,” she said.

On the day following the championships – November 12 – Aimee Nicholls competed in the Festival of Gymnastics, at the same location.

Nicholls represented the NSW Junior Performance team, in a competition based on floor with music, dance, props and costumes.

Godleman said she was very proud of Nicholls’ performance. 

“She really got into character with the zombie themed performance and it was wonderful to watch. The team received silver,” she said.