TEN-YEAR-OLD gymnast Claire Lightfoot has dazzled at the Victorian State Team Trial in Mount Waverley over the weekend, placing first for her session at national level 7.
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Her success in the first leg of the state trials comes off the back of a string of strong performances from the youngster, including a first, third and fifth placing at her previous three state competitions this year. Claire also took out first place for her division on the beam at Mount Waverley.
The Ballarat and Clarendon College student will now compete at stage two of the trails in Diamond Creek this weekend with the hope of gaining a place on the Victorian team for the Australian Championships.
Claire’s efforts have earned her The Courier’s Intersport Sportzbiz Junior Sports Star of the Week award.
She’s risen three levels in less than three years, and most of the level 7s she’s competing against are 12 or 13.
- Janet Sambell-Howe - gymnastics coach
Coach Janet Sambell-Howe described Claire as an “elite talent” who had progressed quickly since taking up the sport less-than three years ago.
“Usually they start when they are very young and progress up through the system, but Claire started out as a level four,” Sambell-Howe said. “She’s risen three levels in less-than three years, and most of the level 7’s she’s competing against are 12 or 13.”
Claire’s success in the sport was almost instant, taking out the level 4 state championship two years ago. Claire currently trains for up to 18 hours, five days a week at the Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre before and after school.
Claire’s mother Anne Lightfoot said the strength of the Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre’s program had motivated Claire to commit so heavily to gymnastics.
“There’s a whole team of them that get there and support each other which is great,” Lightfoot said. “She’s really started working very hard at it this year and it’s showing in the results.”
While Claire is keen to pursue the sport at a national level in the future, Lightfoot said the 10-year-old did not have ambitions to take the sport to an elite level. Claire had previously been offered a full-time place at the Victorian Women’s High Performance Centre, however this would have meant leaving Ballarat for Melbourne.
Should Claire be selected after this weekend’s event she will then compete at the 2016 Australian Championships to be held at Hisense Arena in Melbourne.
The Courier Intersport SportzBiz Junior Sports Star of the Week receives $50 Intersport SportzBiz voucher.
