Tokyo beckons for gymnast Brown
HOMETOWN Commonwealth Games star GeorgiaRose Brown has been urged to “give everything” to the 2020 Olympic cycle, starting with the WAG Classic, finishing tonight, as part of the National Clubs Carnival on the Gold Coast.
This is the directive of national women’s gymnastics coach Mihai Brestyan, who said Brown and fellow Gymnastics Queensland High Per- formance Centre competitor Rianna Mizzen were potential leaders of next month’s World Championship team in Doha, Qatar.
Brestyan said this was Brown’s third Olympic cycle but the 23-year-old biomedical student still had not reached her potential, especially on floor and beam.
Brown, who was flawless except for a slight step on a floor tumbling pass, won Saturday night’s competition with a score of 52.8, ahead of Mizzen (51.575). The winner of the WAG Classic has automatic world title selection.
Brestyan praised the competition toughness of Brown but said she had to hone her motivation.
“Georgia-Rose has to do everything in her power to keep her mental drive strong every day,’’ he said.
“My question to her is how will she maintain her health and body so she can give herself every chance to go to the next Olympics so she doesn’t have more disappointment?’’
He said Mizzen and Commonwealth Games teammate Alexandra Eade had impressed him with their maturity and self-belief.
Brestyan will pick a national squad of up to nine gymnasts tonight as well as a junior squad. He said Queensland juniors Kate Sayer, Youth Olympic competitor Isla Ross and Janis Grommen were vying for positions in the national junior squad.
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