‘Stella’ Commonwealth Games gym selections
Christchurch gymnast Stella Ashcroft is one of two additions to the New Zealand team for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The 15-year old women’s artistic athlete from Christchurch School of Gymnastics has been selected to the team for her strengths in vault and beam.
Though going into her first senior year Stella is no stranger to podiums. In 2016 she won bronze at the Pacific Rim Championships, before collecting a gold, silver, and a team bronze at the Junior Commonwealth Championships.
Last year Ashcroft medalled at the Houston Invitational in the United States, Australian Championships and Classic competitions and at the New Zealand championships.
Ashcroft’s first competition as a senior will be at the World Cup in Melbourne this month.
Meanwhile another 15 year old, rhythmic gymnastics athlete Stella Ebert was also selected for the team.
Ebert’s junior career has been impressive with the young athlete making finals in all her 2016 international competitions.
She won three bronze medals at the Junior Commonwealth Championships and placed first overall in all her domestic competitions.
The pair are the youngest athletes selected to the New Zealand team so far. Ashcroft and Ebert’s inclusion add to the men’s artistic gymnastics team making 7 athletes in the contingent.