Golden Georgia is feelin’ good

IT’S a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life – and Georgia Godwin is feeling good after clinching the gold medal in the women’s artistic gymnastics’ all-around final against the hot hometown competition.

Gold Coast athlete Godwin – the 2018 all-around silver medallist – entered the final rotation in the gold medal position, almost a full mark clear.

It was almost too close for comfort, and just one mistake could have changed everything.

But Godwin’s unshakeable composure against serious competitors, who made crucial mistakes when it mattered, secured her victory.

It was a moment that brought her to tears.

“I’m very emotional. I can’t put into words quite what this means yet,” Godwin said when she emerged with her medal.

“There’s been a lot to get through, I came in with no expectations, and I just wanted to do my best.”

The team final and allaround qualifiers set up England’s gold medal-winning gymnasts Ondine Achampong and Alice Kinsella as formidable opponents, with the pair recording two of the three highest balance beam scores on Saturday night.

But it all came undone hours later in the all-around final, with both Kinsella and Achampong falling from the beam – enabling Godwin to cement her lead ahead of the final rotation after a solid performance.

“With my beam routine, I’ve never quite had that score I wanted to, so my coach back home will be very happy,” Godwin said.

“I heard the crowd when Alice fell, but I tried to stay in my own bubble because I’ve learned not to look at the scores or the other competitors, and just focus on myself and keep the vibe good.” Over the loudspeaker, it was impossible not to hear she was in front ahead of her floor routine. Australian supporters had their hearts in their mouths as Achampong performed a solid floor routine in her efforts to pull ahead – but Godwin was too good, with a routine fittingly performed to Feeling Good by Michael Buble. “That song is something that has grown with me, when I’m down I play that song and Michael Buble always makes me happy,” Godwin said.

“I wanted to go out with a bang and I was just relieved I got through it.”

At the age of 24, Godwin feels

she is at the peak of her career – but she is ready to take a holiday and reassess before entertaining thoughts of Paris 2024 or the October world championships. She took an 11-week break during the height of the pandemic – the longest in her career since she began at four years old.

“My priorities have definitely changed, it’s about quality routines and recovering well, because after the pandemic I realised I wasn’t recovering as quickly,” Godwin said. “For me, I need to put my body and mental health as a priority – I’d love to make Paris but it’s day by day and competition by competition.”

Fellow Australian Emily Whitehead placed 11th in the final, as did teammate Clay Stephens in the morning’s male all-around final.

Rising teen star Jesse Moore pulled out after the third rotation due to a shoulder injury, in a bid to save himself for the apparatus finals. In a true testament to Godwin’s resilience, the women had less than 24 hours between their team final and the all-around.

“I’ve never done two allarounds in 12 hours. To have two apparatus finals and again on Tuesday - it’s never been done,” she said.