Godwin finds new world of self-belief
A CAREER-changing performance at the world championships has given Georgia Godwin the self-belief to dominate her home Commonwealth Games next month.
Born and raised on the Gold Coast before moving to Brisbane at the age of 10, Godwin will return home for her shot at the women’s allaround artistic title on April 6-7.
The 20-year-old emerged as a star to watch with a 13thplaced finish at the world championships in Montreal, Canada, in October, improving on a result of 49th on debut two years earlier.
Now preparing to go into camp with the Australian team in Canberra on Saturday, she is ready to carry her form into a maiden Games appearance.
“I’m not the cleanest gymnast but (worlds) has given me a lot of confidence,” the former Gold Coast Gymnastics and Ashmore PCYC prodigy said.
“I didn’t really think I could compete with the highlevel gymnasts but after that, and my coach saying ‘if you clean up and can get a few extra points here and there then you can medal’, it has given me the confidence.
“Going from the worlds experience with what I scored (52.032), that placed me second in the Commonwealth. I’m hoping to go in the (Games) competition and hit clean routines and whatever happens, happens.
“I’ll be happy competing at a home Commonwealth Games anyway but I’ll be even happier if I get to hit four out of four (routines).
“I didn’t really think about what score I wanted to get (at worlds) or where I wanted to place.
“I just thought about the training I’d done, hitting clean routines and it worked for me, so I’ll be doing that again.”
Godwin’s world championships total would have placed her equal-ninth at the 2014 Games in Glasgow, won by England’s Claudia Fragapane.
With a particular strength on the beam, she is hoping the support of a home crowd can lift her on to the podium at the event next month.
“I can’t put it into words how excited I am,” she said.
“I’ve never been to a competition that’s been this big in Australia, let alone just an hour’s drive from where I live.
“I’ve got Mum, Dad, my grandparents and my uncle and aunty coming.”
I CAN’T PUT IT INTO WORDS HOW EXCITED I AM. GEORGIA GODWIN