All eyes at the Millicent Gymnastics Club have been on the first South Australian Men’s Artistic Gymnast (MAG) to qualify to the Paris Olympics, Jesse Moore.
The 21-year-old was the first MAG at an Olympics since Josh Jefferis who competed at London in 2012.
At the conclusion of the Olympic Men’s Artistic All-Around Final, Moore finished 21st overall.
The club – which was established in the 1940s – has been full of enthusiasm celebrating with themed lessons, watching live and replays of events and decorating the club to show its support to the green and gold.
Though Jesse has been the one to watch being from South Australia, Millicent Gymnastics Club manager and head coach Fiona McDonald said the club was also cheering on the five other Aussies who had made it to Paris.
“It’s the first time in 12 years Australia have had a WAG team qualify,” she said.
Ms McDonald said the hype around the Olympics has inspired her students.
“They are super motivated and excited. They are doing school projects on gymnast Ruby Pass and some are even hoping to one day compete in the Olympics themselves,” she said.
“Some are in awe of the skills they have viewed and are telling each other ‘that’s what our routines turn into’.”
The gymnastics club also has ties to the Olympics, with the current high bar used at the Sydney 2000 Olympic games along with one of the Olympic rings mats, with former coach Sam Fensom gifted the apparatus’ following her judging at the event.
Ms McDonald is full of encouragement, sharing words of encouragement including “passion is a powerful driver, do not let anyone tell you, you are not enough”.
“Anything is possible if you are truly determined and dedicated to work hard,” she said.
“Nothing is ‘impossible’, sometimes you just need to take a break and it becomes ‘I’m possible’.”
She also often shares words of inspiration she received from one of her former coaches.
“You cannot get to the top of the staircase with only one step, you must take each step at a time. Trust the process,” she said.
The Olympics showcases the best of the best in many sports, which Ms McDonald said is encouraging for clubs.
“There is not enough education out there about our sport of gymnastics so being able to have it on live TV and spoken about, really helps to show people what it’s about and that it’s not just for kids,” she said.
“I’m a huge advocate for encouraging everyone of all ages and abilities to participate in the sport because it can be individualised to meet any needs to work on one’s personal bests.
“There are huge benefits from the sport which help people in their everyday life, work, school that I feel is under seen.
“From confidence to learning to become resilient, concentration and much more, plus understanding body and muscle awareness and mental health benefits.”
This term has been the club’s most popular with new enrolments and group bookings.
“We are constantly taking new enrolments and accepting bookings from school groups,” Ms McDonald said.
“The hype around the Olympics helps sports clubs like gymnastics increase interest in people wanting to give the sport a go.
“It motivates people to achieve their best and see what the sport can offer for them and understand what they could be capable of.”
The club offers classes for children under one year old through to no age limit, with current members aged between a few months and 60 years.
KinderGym, Tiny Tots, GymSkills, Parkour, Acrobatics and Adults gymnastics are also offered at the club for beginners and more advanced.
The club also caters for birthday parties, work shows and school groups from kindy right through to university.
Pre-level and competition MAG and WAG are taught with the opportunity to showcase skills at competitions held at other clubs across South Australia and Victoria throughout the year.
“We recently competed at country championships in July, the pinnacle of SA country gymnastics, where we saw many major highlights,” Ms McDonald said.
“Cole Robinson, Level 1 MAG took out gold on all six apparatus and overall.
“He was presented with a silver certificate of excellence because his scores were so high for his age and level. He was the only gymnast over the entire weekend to receive this. He received half of his apparatus in high 9’s which is one mark or less than a perfect score.”
Other high achievers included Patrick Dickenson, Level 1 MAG claiming silver in all six apparatus and overall.
Indi Merrett, WAG Level 2 receiving two top results on apparatus, Letty Hodgens, Mikayla Guyett and Ella Guyett receiving one top result each on an apparatus.
Savannah Dickenson and Lacey Peters placed second in beam in WAG Level 4 for their age divisions.
Patrick and Savannah also received an Apparatus score in the 9’s which is an extremely difficult task to achieve.
Over the recent weekend gymnasts performed at Warrnambool.
For those wanting a taste of the sport, the club also offers a free come and try session during school holidays, or a come and try during term for one class fee.
Contact Fiona McDonald at the club on millgymclub@gmail.com for more information.
