Tempero wins category at NZ gym nationals

Blenheim’s Anna Tempero has finished her career as a gymnast on a high note by winning the all-round step 10 competition at the New Zealand artistic gymnastics championships held in Nelson.

Competing at ‘‘a home away form home’’, the 22-year-old said she was thrilled to walk away from the sport with the gold medal, as she had achieved what she wanted before retiring.

‘‘I’ve already achieved what I wanted to achieve in gym and now I am ready to move on to the next thing.’’

Tempero was part of the Nelson-Blenheim Top of the South team and won the all-round category which includes the volt, bar, beam and floor competitions with a score of 45.45.

While she got the win, Tempero felt she let herself down on the bar, where she had a fall during Thursday’s event.

‘‘It wasn’t the best competition for me personally as I could have done better. I had a fall at the bar which was disappointing. I definitely could have done better.

‘‘It’s nice to finish home here in Nelson.’’

Career highlights for Tempero have included competing at the 2014 World Gymnastic Championships and the 2014 Glasgow Com- monwealth Games, and also recently represented New Zealand in Singapore.

The former Marlborough Girls’ High School student doesn’t yet have a plan of what she will do next, but has thought about studying radiology in Christchurch.

‘‘I have said I am retiring three times now, but this is it. I am the oldest girl in my category now. I am definitely going to miss it.’’

Tempero said she may take to judging or coaching gymnastics as she would like to keep involved with the sport.

‘‘I don’t think I can get away from it fully.’’

Top of the South co-coach Karyn Brown said she was thrilled with how the team compete over the four-day championship, although they did expect more gold medals for the local side which included 14 women and four men.

Almost 400 young gymnasts crammed into the Trafalgar Centre this week under a different format from previous years.

The artistic competition attracted 399 athletes from New Zealand and Australia, while the aerobic rhythmic competition was held in Auckland and the trampoline event is to be held in Christchurch this week.

Gymnastics New Zealand communications manager Anna Robertson said the Nelson event catered for seven divisions and six events with a full schedule over the fours days.

Hosting the three competitions at different venues rather than all under one roof has been done previously, but was not commo, she said. The idea was to bring gymnastics to the regions, which proved to heighten the sports profile. However, next year the entire national competition would be held in Tauranga.

It was the first time the event had been held in Nelson in 20 years and Robertson said it had been a huge deal for the local community.

‘‘It has been great having it held in Nelson as well, the whole week has been a success with plenty of people visiting.’’