Success at the FIG World Age Group Competition
A World Age Champion a Medal and more!
The 29th FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Age Group Competition (WAGC) were held in Sofia, Bulgaria from 23rd to 26th November 2022. For Australia, this was the first time a team was sent to represent our country since Tokyo 2019 due to Covid.
KSTP had four athletes competing, with our club owner Dima selected as the Head Tumbling Coach. Joshua Blench, Madison Rodd and Rylee McKeon are all seasoned WAGC, competing before at this event and this year represented 15 – 16 years in Tumbling, while Alexsa Kachan made her debut, competing in Tumbling and Double Mini Trampoline in 11-12 years.
Alexsa Kachan was the first of our group to compete with her first event being her specialty, tumbling. Twelve-year-old Alexsa has waited a long time to join her teammates at this competition, waiting an extra year due to covid, she was more than prepared. After two strong passes in the preliminaries, she easily made it into the finals in first place. Another strong routine saw her move into the ‘super finals’ for the top 4, again in first place. There was never a doubt that she would finish strong, and that she did, becoming the World Age Champion for 11-12 years at her first WAGC. Next was Alexsa’s competition in Double Mini Trampoline, her first two passes in qualifiers saw her enter the final in 7th position. Pulling out an outstanding routine in the final saw her move into 2nd place into the ‘super finals’. Knowing she was up against mighty strong competition she needed a high degree of difficulty to snatch a medal. Not quite going to plan, Alexsa can hold her head up high coming 4th in the World in her age group.
For Joshua Blench was next to compete, competing two strong routines that saw him finish as first reserve for the finals. For Josh to make the competition at all is a credit to his determination as he overcame a fracture in his back earlier in the year and his training had come to using the treadmill. Finally in October, Josh received clearance to commence training and there was no stopping him.
Our final competitors were Madison and Rylee, they competed in a strong field of 37 athletes. Rylee McKeon performed outstanding routines; her first routine was had the highest degree of difficulty of the qualifiers. She moved through to the finals in 3rd position, maintaining her position coming away with the bronze medal after her outstanding routines.
Madison Rodd has had a tough couple of years with injuries, sadly missing some big events. Just when she was back ready to compete for the year, illness just before Nationals meant she missed another competition. With so much time off the competition floor, Madison was pleased to be back out representing Australia. She finished in sixteenth place, completing both her passes with a strong performance.
We are so proud of all four athletes.