Youngest competitor qualifies for Gym World Cup

News Release 13 August 2007

New Zealand’s youngest competitor qualifies for Gymnastic World Cup

Misha Koudinov, at 16 years old, is New Zealand’s youngest athlete to qualify for a final in the Shanghai Gymnastic World Cup event. Misha achieved his personal best on the international circuit qualifying in tenth position for the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics final, just behind China’s athlete Kim Daeein who came second in the Olympics.

“This is a tremendous effort particularly considering it’s Misha’s debut in a World Cup event and he was competing against some of the world’s best artistic gymnasts from 20 different countries including China, Russia, Japan, the Ukraine and Korea,” says Cath Clark, CEO GymSports New Zealand.

Misha has his sights firmly fixed on his future goals including the 2007 World Championships in Germany, which he has already qualified for.

“The World Championships are Misha’s opportunity to qualify for the Beijing Olympics in 2008,” says Clark. Misha trains at the North Harbour Gymnastics Centre in Glenfield, under the guidance of his father and coach Sasha Koudinov. Also competing in the world cup event were Misha’s team mates Mark Holyoake and Daniel Good from Tri Star Gymnastics in mount Roskill.

“Misha puts in 30 hours training a week before and after school. He shows nothing but absolute dedication,” says Sasha.

Misha has achieved a number of impressive results over the past few years including placing first in the National GymSport Championships in 2005 and 2006. This year he has already achieved 13th position overall at the 2007 Australian Youth Olympic Festival. Men’s Artistic Gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics in which competitors perform short routines on different apparatus. It is one of the most popular spectator sports at the Olympics.

Performing at even a basic level requires very high levels of training, fitness and skill. The apparatus used in Men's Artistic Gymnastics particularly emphasises strength requirements The 2007 National GymSports Championships will be held in Auckland, 22- 30 September. Men’s Artistic Gymnastics is one of the four sports that athletes will compete in; the other three being Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Trampoline.

About GymSports New Zealand GymSports New Zealand is the National Sporting Organisation (NSO) responsible for the development and governance of 5 sports; 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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