Local Kilmore girl Abigail Mecklem is set to hit the Queensland Border Challenge representing Gymnastics Victoria on June 21 and 22.
The Border Challenge is a major annual interstate competition in Australia that brings together the country’s up-and-coming gymnasts to compete for the title of “Best State”.
The 14-year-old gymnast is competing in division one, level seven gymnastics and was selected after two trial competitions where she competed against girls from all across the state.
Starting gymnastics from the age of five, she is no stranger to competition and is now potentially starting to progress to a more professional level.
Abigail told the Review she wan’t expecting to be called up.
“I was genuinely surprised when my parents came and told me that I had been chosen for the state team, as I had not expected to be selected,”
“However, as the news began to set in, my shock quickly turned into
excitement and a great sense of accomplishment knowing my many hours of
hard work had paid off.” She said.
Abigail and a family member travel to Gisborne three times a week to train for four hours, plus another day on the weekend for competition or more training.
The lack of facilities for competition gymnastics around the Kilmore area forces the family to travel close to an hour each way to Gisborne.
“I think having more local high performance centres or school based
programmes would definitely be much more convenient for girls like myself
who have to travel to either Epping or Gisborne, although I don’t think
I could bear to leave my team or coach.” she said.
Abigail’s dad Darren Mecklem said the trip can be a lot and that “It’s a pretty big commitment for her and for us,” he said.
“We’ll pick her up from school, she goes over there and trains for four hours, and then she’s got homework to do amongst all of that,” he said.
“Coach Camilla Camondo who is part of the Gisborne Gymnastics team has played a big part in why we go over to Gisborne.”
Darren told the Review that Abigail is also competing in the school’s swimming team and the upcoming athletics team at Assumption College.
So with her full schedule ahead, we wish Abigail the best of luck for her competition in Queensland in the later half of June.
By Cooper O’Brien
