Tumbling teen ready to take on world
Student wins selection for national team
ATaupō gymnast will be tumbling onto the world stage to represent New Zealand at the World Age Group Championships in Bulgaria this November.
Sixteen-year-old Emma Tindale, from Rotorua’s Mid Island Gym Sports, will be the first from her gym to represent the country at a world championship in 43 years.
The last athlete to do so was Mid Island’s women’s artistic coach Lynette Farkash.
Emma will be tumbling in the 15-16 age group.
The Tauhara College student has been tumbling in Rotorua for four years but has been a gymnast since she was 7.
She joined the Rotorua gym when her coach in Taupō moved away. “It worked out pretty well.” She loves the challenge of the fastpaced sport and says there is a lot of adrenaline at every competition.
Emma says she gravitated towards niche sports that were harder and that a lot of people did not do.
People were always interested to know how she moved through the air.
“Not many people can do a backflip, not many people can do a cartwheel.”
The selection process for the world competition was a long one and the final stage was when she competed in Invercargill at the NZ Gymnastics Championships in July. She got news of her selection about a week ago.
Expecting to receive a letter, it was a moment of surprise when her mum received an email informing her of her chance to represent New Zealand.
“Mum just gets this email and she’s like, ‘oh’, and I said, ‘what is it?’.
“And she’s like, ‘you got selected, yay’.”
Emma’s excitement for overseas competitions was not something that came initially, she says.
Having had opportunities in recent years to venture overseas, she had not wanted to go due to the cost and a lack of confidence.
She says she will quit the sport in the next few years.
“I just want to make the most of it while I can. I don’t think everyone gets this opportunity so I might as well take it.”
While some categories had set routines, hers did not. This meant she had the chance to be creative in making the routine herself.
She was not yet sure what this would include but she and her coach had a number of ideas.
“My style is I will learn a skill the day or two before and give it a crack.”
The trip will cost between $5000 and $8000 and will be self-funded. If you wish to make a contribution go to www.givealittle.co.nz and search for Emma Tindale.