Gymnasts on launch pad

TWO Kingborough gymnasts will make their World Age Group Competition debuts later this year when they represent Australia in Russia.

Amber French and Patrick Schluter were selected to contest the women’s and men’s trampoline events respectively, with both to compete in the under-17 division.

The World Age Championships is the pinnacle event for junior trampoline and has been the launching pad for many other Tasmanian athletes, including Jack Penny who is a twotime World Senior Championship finalist and former Olympic shadow squad member.

French and Schluter will both compete in the individual and synchronised trampoline categories.

It will be an important stepping stone for the pair, who are part of the junior national squad and have been earmarked as senior candidates for 2024 and beyond.

Both gymnasts have represented Australia previously.

Schluter finished fifth in the junior synchronised event at the Pacific Rim Championships in Colombia and more recently won silver at the Oceania Youth Olympic Trial.

That secured him the country’s reserve position in the men’s trampoline event at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games.

French has worn the green and gold twice, first in 2016 and then again at the 2017 New Zealand Championships where she won both the individual trampoline and double-mini events in the sub-junior category.

At the 2018 Australian Gymnastics Championships, French’s near flawless performances in the junior women’s trampoline landed her in the silver medal position, attracting the attention of the Australian selectors for the World Age Championships.

The World Age Group Championships will take place in St Petersburg from November 15-18.