NZ beats off fierce competition for five golds

News Release

6 August 2007

New Zealand beats off fierce competition for five gold medals

Three athletes from east Auckland fought off fierce competition to bring home four gold medals last week, from the 2007 International Youth Aerobic Championships (IYAC) in Los Angeles.

Charlotte Bass, 14, from Howick, topped the field in the individual Aerobics performances for her age group, bringing home a gold medal. There were 56 competitors in the preliminary rounds.

Six New Zealand girls competed, all placing within the top 15.

Charlotte has a strong history in competing on the international circuit. She first competed in the Youth IAC in 2003 aged 10 when she finished 22nd and for the last three years Charlotte has achieved either a gold or silver medal.

Charlotte also won a gold medal together with her team mates Kristi Bain, from Golflands and Tyla Ramsey from Buckland’s Beach, when they competed in the hotly contested trios.

The fifth gold medal was won in the adults’ competition by Angela McMillan. The 27 year old competed in the 2007 FIG World Series Event, beating Japan and Austria to first place winning another gold for New Zealand.

“All of the girls really did their clubs, coaches, GymSports NZ and their country proud”, said Cath Clark, CEO, GymSports New Zealand. “They have been working so hard towards this international competition. To bring back five gold medals for New Zealand is fantastic."

The ANAC World Aerobic Championship is the official world-class athletic competition held annually.

“The sport has come a long way in a relatively short time. From its inception in the early '80's aerobics has captured the attention and earned the respect of athletes who are drawn to it by the challenge and excitement of its high-performance standard,” says Cath Clark, CEO, GymSport New Zealand.

Competition aerobics was created as a showcase for athletes of all ages to demonstrate excellence in the fitness components of muscular strength and endurance, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility balance, coordination, agility, speed, and power through continuous movement patterns.

The 2007 National Aerobics Championships will be held in Auckland, 18 - 19 August. New Zealand athletes will be competing in all age groups of Aerobic competition. The medal winning athletes will be on show during the 2 day event.

About GymSports New Zealand

GymSports New Zealand is the National Sporting Organisation (NSO) responsible for the sports of Aerobics, Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Men’s Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Trampolining. All sports are World and Olympic sports.

GymSports New Zealand is not just about competitive GymSports; it is about providing the core skills for all sports movement. This side of the sport is receiving increased focus within our vision for GymSports New Zealand, thus contributing to the nation’s goal of becoming the most active nation.

ENDS

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