Gymnast Greenbaum on way to World Cup
AFTER a superb year of results at state and national events, Sydneysider Deborah Greenbaum has been selected to represent Australia at the upcoming 2014 Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) Aerobic Gymnastics World Cup in Tokyo in April.
AFTER a superb year of results at state and national events, Sydneysider Deborah Greenbaum has been selected to represent Australia at the upcoming 2014 Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) Aerobic Gymnastics World Cup in Tokyo in April.
Greenbaum, 17, booked a spot on the team of four following her stand-out performance at the world cup selection trials in Melbourne earlier in the month to become the green and gold’s only representative in age group 2.
“I never thought I’d be able to represent Australia,” Greenbaum told The AJN.
“I’ve always wanted to, so having this opportunity is amazing.
“It hasn’t quite sunk in yet. When they told me it was a bit surreal, but now that I’m going, it’s all hitting me with the extra training and work.”
The former Emmanuel Student, now in year 11 at MLC, blitzed the field in the age group 2 aerobic division at last year’s Australian Gymnastics Championships to win gold, which was an emotional result considering she has had to overcome a serious foot injury after falling off the beam in 2011.
Taking part in the national champs also meant that Greenbaum would miss out on heading to Israel for the Maccabiah Games last July, but the decision certainly paid off.
With a stringent training regime preparing her for the selection trials, Greenbaum was relieved to know she made the squad.
“They have very high standards, they don’t send you unless you can make the final,” Greenbaum said.
“This is my first year at international level, but I feel confident, and with my training, it’s going well and everything will hopefully pay off.”
Greenbaum has been nominated for the Gymnastics NSW International Stream Gymnast of the Year award, which comes after she was nominated for the Maccabi NSW’s Junior Sportswoman of the Year award in 2012.
Having already starred on the national stage, Greenbaum is now looking to take the world by storm.
“There’s a lot of extra training, fitness and skills routines, which all has to be the best,” Greenbaum said.
“My first goal is to make the finals, which is top six, and hopefully once I get there my ultimate goal is to place.”
ASHLEY SHENKER
Photo: Kangaroo Photos
comments