Gymmin' Miel!

The event was suggested by Gymnastics Western Australia’s Vice President Rick Elkington with the hope that it will bring in more recognition and financial support for the sport.

• Mitchell Confident of Medal Chances in Gym - on Ninemsn's Wide World of Sports. 
• Fit Lauren Mitchell Focused on Medal - article from The Australian.
• Lauren Mitchell Ready for the Intimidating Cauldron of London's Millennium Dome - article and above image from The Herald Sun

One is a 49 kilogram pocket rocket gymnast and the other is a weightlifter three times her size, but both possess the key to Olympic Games success - genetic predisposition.
Lauren Mitchell and Damon Kelly have almost nothing in common and their sports require completely different skills. But an Australian Institute of Sport senior physiologist, Philo Saunders, says their respective genes are crucial to becoming world-class athletes.
So, what makes an athlete perfect for their sport? It is a combination of oxygen capacity, muscle make-up and the hunger for success.
For world champion Mitchell, it is her speed, flexibility and aerial awareness. For weightlifter Kelly, it is his ''big quads and big arse''.
''Sometimes you get someone who breaks the mould. But if you're genetically not disposed to a certain sport, you're just not going to be good at it,'' Saunders says.''Some people are just faster because they've got that fast-twitch muscle fibre make-up. You can change it to a certain degree, but there's a limit you reach while others just push through it naturally.''
The breakdown is pretty simple.

Pole vaulters are tall, muscular, possess explosive speed and have a big vertical jump. Gymnasts are the same but shorter with superior flexibility.

When Saunders gets athletes in the AIS laboratory and tests anthropometry, body composition, height, weight, muscle mass and maximal oxygen capacity, he discovers their full potential.Lauren Mitchell is the perfect size for gymnastics - 158 centimetres tall and weighs 49 kilograms - and is flexible.The average age of the Australian gymnastics squad is 21 and the average weight is 49kg, making them some of the smallest in London.''Gymnastics has really evolved over the last three Olympiads; it's no longer the little, mini, pixie 14-year-olds,'' Australian head coach Peggy Liddick says.''You need the vaulters who are the short, fireplug, pocket rockets.''The shorter they are, the faster they twist and turn … and pound for pound, they're probably as strong as a 100 kilogram weightlifter and can perhaps even lift more.''I want guts. I want the kid climbing the curtains and up the poles. gymnastics is about being courageous.''Lauren Mitchell fits all the body types, but she's not that co-ordinated. She's like a bulldog, she just won't quit or let go.''

Gymnast Lauren Mitchell is taking a cautious approach to the London Games.
Mitchell's approach has been to perfect the routines that have brought her success over the last couple of years rather than make big changes ahead of arriving in London.
The Western Australian became Australia's first female gymnastics world champion in 2010.
That victory followed her two silver medals at the 2009 world championships in London, at the Olympic North Greenwich Arena.
Mitchell described winning the world championship as a 'mind shattering moment' but it wasn't long before her focus turned towards the 2012 Olympics.
She has been locked away at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra training to be at her best for this year's Olympics.
"2011 was more about upgrading skills and getting my routines ready for this year," Mitchell said.
"I'm not really making changes to my routines this year.''
Mitchell is not worried about the pressure of Olympic competition.
She was part of the Australian team that finished sixth in Beijing, the best Olympic result for an Australian artistic gymnastics team.
"I've got that behind me so I know exactly what it's like now,'' Mitchell said.
"It's a cliche, but the Olympics is another competition for us.''

THERE'S no hiding in the shadows for Lauren Mitchell.
As the days and months to the Olympic Games are ticked off, the spotlight will shine brighter on the 20-year-old West Australian as she endeavours to become Australia's first female medallist in gymnastics.
The 2010 floor world champion has been fine-tuning her routines in Canberra for the past few days as part of an Australian competition camp at the AIS.
Since that breakthrough victory, Mitchell's preparations have been solely focused on being at the top of her game in London.
Even if it meant sacrificing a podium place at last year's world titles.
Mitchell unveiled an upgraded floor routine last year which she believes will give her the best chance of making history at the Olympic Games.
"Last year for me was like a test to see where I was and if I could put a few new moves into my routine in a competition environment," she said.
"That proved that I could.
"Even though I hit my routine it just wasn't the best on the day.
"Now I kind of know how to make it better so I'm that much more confident going into this year."
The floor and the beam are Mitchell's two main events, with a persistent shoulder injury meaning she is unable to train on the bars.
Mitchell described the injury as "kind of like a stress fracture" brought on by constant pounding during her long career, and puts in doubt her chances of competing in the all-around competition at the Olympics.
"We're not sure yet, we're playing it by ear," she said.
"Peggy [Australian coach Peggy Liddick] wants to put the best team out, and obviously if my bars isn't good enough then I won't be going up in bars anyway."
The Australian team flies out for competitions in the United States and Canada on Tuesday ahead of the national championships in May.
A final selection camp will be held in Canberra in June.
With only five female gymnasts, down from the usual six, making the cut for the Olympics, every chance to impress selectors is crucial, including the Pacific Rim Championships in Seattle later this month.
The biannual event features gymnastic powerhouses China, the US and Russia.
"There's a lot of big names there so it gives us a good view of where we're at before the Olympics," Mitchell said.

Gymnast Lauren Mitchell, Australia's best hope for gold at the London Olympics, has a shoulder injury which has forced her to stop training on the uneven bars before her first overseas trip of the year.
The star of the WAIS gymnastics program, which also includes three other Olympic squad members - Emily Little, Georgia Simpson and Nikki Chung - has not allowed the setback to prevent her from training.
"The injury is a setback because I am not able to train on the bars but that has allowed me to work on other areas, which is a positive," Mitchell said.
"I have been working on my execution because the start value is at the highest level and that is what you need to be a contender in the finals at the Olympics."
Her coach, Martine George, said Mitchell had come a long way in the past three weeks. George said the decision to stay off the bars was made to prevent her from aggravating the injury while still allowing her to prepare for her two pet events on the floor and beam.
"She needs to rehabilitate well before she jumps back on the bars because we don't want to take any risks with the instability in the shoulder," George said.
"It is a balancing act for her because we leave for two big competitions in Montreal and Seattle next month where she needs to get back on the international scene even though we don't expect her to compete all-around."
Mitchell's main goal is to get ready for Olympic selection trials in Sydney from May 22 to 26.
She said the trip to Canada would give the team a feel of where it stood on the world stage in the lead-up to London.
"My main goal at the Olympics will be to qualify the team into the top eight and after that anything can happen in the finals," she said.
She said her last Olympics campaign in Beijing was disappointing after falling off the beam, and her floor routine was not as good as it was when she won the world title in 2010 or when she took two silvers at the 2009 world championships.
"I am not able to train on the bars but that has allowed me to work on other areas, which is a positive.""

Photo from thewest.com.au of WAIS reps Lauren Mitchell (WAG), Janine Murray (RG) and Emily Little (WAG).

• Lauren Mitchell (WA)
• Emily Little (WA)
• Ashleigh Brennan (VIC)
• Mary Anne Monckton (NSW)
• Georgia Bonora (VIC)

• Naazmi Johnston (NSW)
• Janine Murray (WA)
• Danielle Prince (QLD)

• Joshua Jefferis (QLD)
• Samuel Offord (SA)
  
• Thomas Pichler (QLD)
  
• Philippe Rizzo (NSW)
  
• Prashanth Sellathurai (NSW)

Murray said missing out on selection for Melbourne had provided a great motivator.

"I have made significant improvements overall and recorded my best-ever score in the hoop at trials," she said.

LAUREN MITCHELL:

Mitchell, who has not competed since the end of last year because of a series of injuries, said she was on the mend and had no concerns leading into the Commonwealth Games.

"I was in a similar position having not competed in a significant event before the worlds last year but managed to pull it off in London," Mitchell said.

"I'm on the mend and see the Commonwealth Games as a great stepping stone in the lead-up to the London Olympics."

EMILY LITTLE:

Little said selection for the Commonwealth Games was a dream come true even though the last few months had been frustrating because of injury.

Details Danielle Prince's success story:

Program manager Peter Dowdell said Prince’s development to top three status in 18 months since she arrived unranked at MBC had been remarkable.
``We believe Dani is in medal contention at Delhi,’’ he said.
``She and her coaches have worked very hard and the way Dani hit her four routines at Perth was tremendous.’‘
Prince is coached by MBC International Rhythmic Coaches, Edith and Gina Peluso and will be accompanied by Gina, in her role as Australian Judge, to Delhi.

And lastly a little recap of Naazmi Johnston's success from Northen Star Online:

FORMER Lismore resident Naazmi Johnston has all but confirmed her place at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi with a dominant performance at the Australian Gymnastics Championships in Perth.

Johnston was ruthless in winning the women’s ball, hoop, ribbon, rope and all-round titles before leading NSW to victory in the women’s team event.

Johnston’s win in the all-round classification came by almost 10 points from her nearest competitor.

With her performance at the championships, it is expected Johnston will lead the Australian team to competition at the world titles in Russia in September before contesting the Delhi Games in October.

GYMNAST Lauren Mitchell is hoping the past mirrors the future as she prepares for a busy six months of competition.

Mitchell, 19 next month, has had an injury-interrupted start to 2010 after breaking her wrist late last year and then badly rolling her ankle a few months later.

Now back in full training, Mitchell is confident she can match last year's record-breaking feats, which saw her claim two silver medals at the world championships.

"It's kind of the same as last year when I had a rib injury, so I'm taking it as a good omen," she said.

"I missed the first half of last year and blitzed the second, so I hope to do the same again this year."

Mitchell returned from the championships in London to a heroine's welcome.

While her dual silver medal result is the best by an Australian at an international gymnastics meet, she insists her newfound status as the nation's greatest gymnast has not changed her approach to the sport.

"I'm still the same gymnast and everyone out there is still training, still getting better, so I still have to train to get better and I know I can improve," she said.

"The only pressure and expectation is the one I put on myself. I know all I have to do is what I did last time, but at the end of the day my best will get me there."

After a quicker-than-expected recovery from her double injury blow, Mitchell will spend the next two weeks preparing for the national championships in Perth, starting on July 5.

The nationals will double as selection trials for the Commonwealth Games in October.

Mitchell will make her Games debut in Delhi, if selected, after missing out on competing at the Melbourne Games in 2006 due to injury.

Fellow WA gymnasts Daria Joura and Emma Little will not compete at the national championships as they continue their recoveries from ankle and elbow injuries.

Mitchell hopes to feature among the individual medals in Delhi, but her primary aim is to guide the Australian team to top honours. And she is not fazed by the security fears surrounding the Games, but is advising her parents to stay home and save their money.

"If the organising committee say it's safe, then I trust them that it's safe to go," she said. "I think because I've been to the Olympics before, I know what to expect, so I don't really think it will be that much different to Beijing (2008 Olympics)."