JUMPING TO IT: Dylan Biggs and Amy Pilkinton will compete at the New Zealand Gymsport Championships in Invercargill next week.
Photo Louis Klaassen D4285-14
TWO Whakatane gymnasts have battled the odds to reach next week’s New Zealand Gymsport Championships in Invercargill.
Sixteen-year-old Dylan Biggs will compete in level 6 at the event on high bar, parallel bar, vault, rings, pommel and floor apparatus.
Fifteen-year-old Amy Pilkinton is competing in step 8 on uneven bar, vault, beam and floor. There are 956 athletes competing at the event.
Dylan missed out on the national championships last year after breaking his foot and Amy is on the comeback from injury after tearing tendons and ligaments in her foot six months ago.
As well as injuries, there is no coach at the required level in Whakatane to guide the young gymnasts. Amy has travelled to Te Puke for her training while Dylan has coached himself.
Dylan said he was determined to make up for missing out last year.
“I felt I was going to do really well last year, then I got injured. I really want to get some placings this year.
“I want to get consistent scores on each apparatus and I am aiming around scores of 11. That is where you need to be. My floor routine is getting pretty strong and it has always been my best.”
Amy said the injury had restricted her build up, but she was confident of doing well.
“I have only been training for everything for five weeks, but I am happy with where I am at. I still think my routines can medal on the vault and maybe all around.
“You can be happy with your performance but at nationals you need a good score. On the day it is hard to make changes.
“My vault is my strongest, but my bar routine could potentially win – if I stay on. My bar has the highest difficulty.”