Fifth Games loom for Koudinov
A record fifth appearance for Misha Koudinov and the selection of brothers Ethan and Sam Dick are highlights of the New Zealand artistic and rhythmic gymnastics team named for the Commonwealth Games.
The trio are part of a full five-person men’s artistic team for Birmingham, with 30-year-old Koudinov – a two-time Olympian – leading the men’s team into a record fifth consecutive Commonwealth Games.
‘‘I am having more fun with my training than ever before,’’ he said.
Ethan Dick, studying and training at Penn State University in the US, will be heading to his second Commonwealth Games while younger brother Sam Dick, as well as William Fu Allen and Jorden O’Connell-Inns, will be making their Commonwealth Games debuts.
The quartet from the Tri Star club are coached by Mark Jujnovich and Olympian David Phillips, who competed at the 1990 and 1998 Commonwealth Games respectively, while Christchurch’s O’Connell-Inns is coached by Alexander Pozdniakov, who coached at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
Koudinov is extremely strong on the
parallel bars, while Ethan Dick will be aiming to better his Gold Coast 2018 sixth-place finish on floor. Sam Dick has recorded two fourth place vault finishes at the Youth Olympic Games and Junior World Championships.
The team will be striving for a podium finish against powerhouse nations England, Canada, and Australia.
Havana Hopman and Paris Chin will represent New Zealand in the women’s rhythmic gymnastics, with both athletes having plenty of World Cup and international tournament experience in Europe this year.