Veteran 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.‘‘