Gymnastics: Australian champs beckon Galliven

Otago rhythmic gymnast Zara Galliven (14) will represent New Zealand at the Australian Gymnastic...
Otago rhythmic gymnast Zara Galliven (14) will represent New Zealand at the Australian Gymnastic Championships later this month. Photo by Peter McIntosh.

Zara Galliven.
Zara Galliven.
Otago rhythmic gymnast Zara Galliven does a lot of juggling, spinning and leaping and she is pretty good at it.

So good she has been selected to represent New Zealand at the 2016 Australian Gymnastics Championships later this month.

The year 10 Columba College pupil's favourite apparatus is the clubs but the level eight gymnast is pretty handy with the rope, ball and hoop, as well.

When she is not leaping in the air or doing nifty tricks with the different apparatus, she keeps busy doing jazz, ballet and contemporary dance. The 14-year-old crams a lot into each week but gymnastics is ‘‘my thing'', she says.

‘‘I love everything about it. I love the leotards and the music and just the way that everything is sort of done,'' Galliven said.

‘‘I've grown up with the sport and it is just like a normal thing for me. It's my thing.''

She spends about 12 hours each week honing her skills and, while she is pretty even at all the apparatus, the clubs are her favourite.

That passion came out during her routine at a trial in Christchurch in March.

‘‘I was pretty happy with my clubs, even though there was a little mistake. It was just a wee one. Just a silly drop.

‘‘Everything had gone like great and I was like, ‘yeah, the routine is nearly done' but ...''

She had relaxed a little too much and the club just slipped out of her hand towards the end of the routine. The judges were not put off at all and awarded her top marks. She beat a strong contingent from Auckland and Christchurch to qualify first and is looking forward to the Australian tournament.

‘‘I think it will be a really good experience and I'm also looking forward to hanging out and the socialising part.

‘‘Hopefully, I do pretty well. I'm not exactly sure what the competition is like over there, so I guess it will be interesting to see what it is like.''

The Australians should present a stern challenge. They are nearing the end of their season, while Galliven is at the beginning of hers.

Galliven's long-term goal is to get to at least level 10 - the highest grade below international.

Other than that, she will just keep competing ‘‘until I don't like it, I guess''.

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