Amaya (10), a pupil at St Clair School, won a silver medal in the step 6, division 1 beam, and was placed third overall on the first day of competition. She scored 14.05 points on the beam at her first national championships.
She started gymnastics at the age of 2 and has obviously inherited her mother's skill.
Carmel Leslie, the head coach of the Dunedin Gymnastic Academy, competed at two world championships and finished fourth on the floor at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland.
Four of the eight gymnasts at the academy reached the finals.
The others were Amelia Phillips, who won a proficiency pin in step 5, division 2; Alyssa Shelton, seventh overall on the beam in step 6, division 1; and Lily Mole, sixth overall on the floor in step 6, division 1.
Another impressive performer was College St Gymnasium athlete Hannah Close, who finished sixth overall on the vault in step 7, division 2.
The Otago aerobics team won 11 medals - two gold, seven silver and two bronze.
Hannah Hutton (Alexandra) won the only individual gold medal, in step 7. The Alexandra step 6 team of Breana Smith, Ally Nicholls and Teighan Irvine also won gold.
In step 4, silver medals were won by Emma McCaughan (Balclutha) in the age 9 to 11 grade and Kylie Lyders (Dunedin) in the age 15 to 17 grade.
Jade Fielding (Dunedin) won silver in step 6, age 12 to 14, and Emily White (Dunedin) was second in step 8, age 15 to 17.
Bronze medals were won by Anna McCaughan (Balclutha) in step 4, age 12 to 14 and Breana Smith (Alexandra) in step 5, age 9 to 11. Balclutha's Anna and Emma McCaughan and Sophie Sinclair won silver in step 4.
Two Alexandra pairs won silver - Breana Smith and Ally Nicholls (step 5) and Teighan Irvine and Hannah Hutton (step 7).
Otago won six individual medals in rhythmic gymnastics. The best-performed was Rosie Hardie, who won silver in the level 8 clubs, and Ella Hjertquist, who was second in the level 7 rope.
Shannon Thorsnes was third in the level 9 ball and clubs.
Regan King was third in the level 10 clubs and Stephanie Devereux was third in the level 6 ball.
In group events, Sophie Turner, Mikayla Scott, Lauren Issacs and Annie McDonald won silver in grade 4, and Ava McFadgen, Libby Bloem, Stephanie Devereux and Ella Cameron were third.
In grade 5, Caitlin McKinlay, Claire Lau, Mikaela Walsh, Shannon Thorsnes and Sophie Coutts won the bronze medal.
The following gymnasts gained proficiency pins: stage 3, Ali Bloem; level 5, Lauren Issacs, Zara Galliven, Caitlin Thomson, Annie McDonald; level 7, Caitlin McKinlay, Alexi Hart, Ella Hjertquist; level 8, Rosie Hardie; level 9, Shannon Thorsnes; level 10, Regan King, Sarah Morrison, Mikaela Walsh.
