I want to take this opportunity to thank Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua for their generous donation towards my gymnastics trip to Hawaii. I am so grateful to have such supportive family, helping me make these incredible experiences possible.
The Hawaiian competition I competed at, along with 16 other New Zealand team mates was a huge success, not just for myself but for our whole team. Every team member managed to stand on the podium which made us feel proud of our country. The first competition was called the ‘Gymnastics in Paradise’ competition which hosted gymnasts from the States, Australia and the UK.
I finished 3rd on the bar as well as the beam and was placed 3rd overall, scoring myself a traditional Hawaiian trophy. I was pleased with this competition, however I knew I could do better on the other two apparatuses so I kept positive and focused for the next competition called the ‘Aloha Gymfest’.
With a solid podium training and a determined mind, the second competition was another success, earning a gold on the vault, silver on the floor, bronze on the bar and another 3rd overall, receiving a unique, starfish trophy. Overall, I was stoked with my results and for my team mates. We were all supportive of each other, despite the fact we weren’t from the same regions. This experience was a once in a lifetime experience and I’m so privileged to have supportive family to help me get there. My plan this year is to continue with my intense training and try new skills so that I get more bonuses in my routines. Since this is my second year in step 10 I aim to improve my routines so that my scores are more consistent.
Millie Manning.