Three young, hardworking Wānaka gymnasts who have been training at Aspiring Gymsports Gymnastic Club will be competing in the New Zealand Gymnastics Championships in Auckland this October, as a result of their incredible local achievement. Jessica Penney (12), Isabella Soper (14), and Deia Carson (15) will compete in a range of gymnastics contests across five days.

Both Carson and Penney will be competing in trampoline and double mini-tramp, with Carson also competing in tumbling. Soper will be competing in the women’s artistic gymnastics in vault, bar, beam, and floor. 

Interestingly for the three gymnasts, they each will be competing for different regions at the event, due to new coaching opportunities. The three are all a part of the Aspiring Gymsports training facility, however have also been given opportunities outside of the Upper Clutha to train for larger-scale competitions. With Carson for Southland, Penney for Canterbury, and Soper for Otago, they are all very excited to put their best pointed-feet forward in the competition.

Soper, who is the first gymnast in Wānaka to perform the Tsukahara vault, said that, “I am really proud of my results this season, I think I have improved so much this year. I am super excited to be competing at nationals and really hope to do the best I can!” 

Penney added that she loves trampolining, especially when she gets to go to large-scale competitions like the upcoming nationals. “This is my fourth national event and I am hoping to be in the top five this year for my age group but anything can happen on the day,” she said. 

There will be an opportunity to see the three gymnasts performing their routines at their final training session at Aspiring Gymsports on Thursday September 26 from 5.00-6.30pm.