Tough stuff

Jessica Clydesdale probably could not have picked a worse time to pick up a knee injury.

But she bounced back to produce a stand-out performance at the New Zealand artistic gymnastic championships in Timaru earlier this month.

Jessica (16), a year 11 pupil at Otago Girls' High School, was 10 minutes out from the start of the step seven competition when she slipped off the beam in a warm-up and banged her knee up badly.

She limped off to the medical room and applied some ice to the injury.

Still hurting and facing the possibility of a last minute withdrawal, Jessica simply did not want to throw in the towel after all the months of training.

So, bruised knee and all, she quickly decided to battle on in the competition.

And battle on she did, eventually picking up a couple of medals, including winning the floor event, in a field of nearly 50 gymnasts from around the country.

As well as the gold medal on the floor, she picked up a bronze medal on the vault. She also finished fourth in the all-round grade and fourth on the uneven bars.

Her escapade on the beam before the start of the competition meant she was never a contender in that apparatus.

Jessica said her right knee was still a bit sore, although she had yet to consult a doctor. She was continuing to train in a sport which required plenty of dedication.

Fellow Otago competitor Shannon Hope finished ninth overall in the step five competition, while Lily Mole, Abby Stevens and Tom Cushnie all competed with distinction.