WHILE most other children are spending the school holidays in front of the television or playing computer games, Talia Michell has been pushing her body to the limits.
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The 15-year-old spent the first few of days of the holidays at Central West Gymnastics holiday camp, working on her skills and routines with coaches ahead of the level five state competition on July 25 in Sydney.
While training for six hours a day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday might sound strenuous, Talia said she enjoyed the camps and attended them each holidays.
“I want to improve, improve my range of skills. They’re really fun too,” she said.
“On bars I’ve been working on kips and on floor I’ve been working on my backward walkover.”
Not only are the school holiday camps used by competition gymnasts to brush up on routines and skills, but Central West Gymnastics coach Madeleine Waters said around half of the 40 to 50 children who attend each day are new to gymnastics.
“Parents love it because they’re doing active things for the day and trying something new. It gives them something a bit different,” Mrs Waters said.
Talia, who has been practising gymnastics for six years, said the diverse skills required to be a gymnast keep her going back year after year.
“I like how there’s a variety of apparatus and a range of different skills. The feeling of flying through the air is amazing,” Talia said.
alexandra.king@fairfaxmedia.com.au