Jewish gymnast leaps for gold glory
STAR gymnast Deborah Greenbaum has achieved the outstanding feat of back-to-back national titles, after taking out a gold medal at the recent 2014 Australian Aerobic Championships in Brisbane.
STAR gymnast Deborah Greenbaum has achieved the outstanding feat of back-to-back national titles, after taking out a gold medal at the recent 2014 Australian Aerobic Championships in Brisbane.
Competing in the elite age group 2 division, Greenbaum, 17, had her sights set on backing up her impressive form in the corresponding event at the NSW State Championships in July.
For the uninitiated, gym aerobics is a dynamic sport that combines acrobatics and rhythmic gymnastics, along with music, dance and choreography, where competitors are scored according to artistic quality, creativity, execution and difficulty.
Greenbaum, who trains at Lauren’s Academy of Aerobics and Fitness in Paramatta, topped her group after the qualification rounds, edging out the second-place gymnast from Western Australian by 0.1 points.
In a fiercely competitive final, Greenbaum managed to cling on for the gold, finishing 0.05 in front of the silver medallist, which was enough for the Jewish teenager to claim consecutive national titles.
“It is very exciting to train hard and then achieve success,” Greenbaum told The AJN .
“It shows that hard work – and lots of repetitions – actually help. My coaches and family are all wonderful and should also be recognised as part of my success.”
The gold medal in aerobics is made even more impressive given her two bronze-medal placings at the Australian Artistic Gymnastics Championships, making her a rare success across two gym sports.
In a breakout year for Greenbaum, she was also named Australian and NSW’s Aerobic Gymnastics Youth Athlete of the Year and represented her country at international games.
“Being fit and able to compete is a highlight, although representing Australia twice has been amazing,” she said.
“I was selected for the Australian team and competed at two World Cup events. I came ninth in Japan and a very pleasing fourth in the USA.
“I hope next year to be able to do even better and maybe earn some medals for Australia.”
Greenbaum’s campaign was capped off by selection onto the 2015 Gymnastics Australia National Squad.
AJN STAFF
comments