STAWICKI’S SKIPPING HER WAY TO THE TOP
WHEN Ella Stawicki tells people she meets that she does skipping as a sport, the 14year-old frequently receives the same response.
“They’re always like ‘I didn’t know that was a sport’,” she said. “That’s the most common response.”
Despite facing some occasional harmless ignorance, the Gold Coast young gun continues to make the skipping world stand up and take notice.
The young gun has already represented her club, state and nation at the 2018 World Rope Skipping Championships in Shanghai, China.
“It was really cool,” she said. “It was really interesting to see different styles of skipping from around the world.”
In July she will travel with her club, the Hot Shots, to Norway for the 2019 World Jump Rope Championships in Oslo.
“I’m very excited but nervous as well,” she said.
Stawicki, who decided to start skipping when her sister joined the sport, is one of the early nominees for the Gold Coast Bulletin’s Local Sports Star Awards after her mum Emma nominated her.
“It’s really good having someone who is so supportive of me,” she said of her mum.
“It’s really cool (to be nominated).
“It would mean a lot to win because skipping doesn’t really get showcased as a sport that often.”
Stawicki, who can complete 88 skips in 30 seconds, has high hopes for her future.
“My ultimate goal is to win a medal at the worlds,” she said.
The Local Sports Star Awards categories include: Junior Sports Star, Team of Excellence, Inspiration Award and Service to Sport.
A presentation night for winners will be at the Gold Coast Suns later in the year.