VICTORIAN star Monette Russo is set to
unveil a new vault at this week's world championship trials in
Caloundra as she seeks to cement her dominance of Australian women's
gymnastics.
Russo has been working all year on perfecting the
Yurchenko half-twist with pike (9.6 start value) as she aims to
sweep every event.
She believes the vault is at last ready for competition but will
make the final call after today's training before the trials start
tomorrow night.
The petite 17-year-old dynamo finished three points ahead of her
nearest rival at the national senior championships in Sydney in May
– which is a big gap in gymnastics – but Russo is expecting tougher
competition this time.
Her Athens Olympian and Victorian teammate Karen Nguyen, and 2003
world championship bronze medallist teammate Belinda Archer (NSW)
are both returning from injury while Queensland's only entrant
Hayley Wright has markedly improved as a reliable all-arounder
prospect.
National championship placegetters behind Russo – Monique Blount
(ACT), Casey McDonnell (NSW) and Lynn Silcock (Vic) – also have
strong cases for making the four-woman team for the world
championships in Melbourne starting November on 24.
"I'm feeling pretty good. I've done a lot of preparation and I'm
feeling ready," Russo said.
"It's not hard (to be motivated), I know that I'm doing a good
job. You are always trying to get the highest score."
National women's gymnastics coach Peggy Liddick has set an
automatic qualifying score of 37 – the equivalent of a world top-10
finish – which Russo has achieved only once, at this year's national
titles.
Russo was runner-up in last year's Athens Olympic test event but
her Olympic campaign was injury-marred by severe stress fractures to
her feet. She was forced to withdraw from the all-around final after
qualifying in 25th place on limited preparation.
She exacted revenge when she scored 36.650 in beating China's
Olympic all-around bronze medallist Zhang Nan (36.6) in Canberra in
July and won two silver medals (uneven bars and vault) in the
apparatus challenge in Melbourne.
"Monette beat Nan at this year's Canberra International.
Unfortunately it was 12 months too late but she proved to herself
she can do it," Liddick said.
"Last year was a frustrating time. The injury was not part of our
plan and hopes but she's in good shape now. It's her turn to shine
now."
Liddick believes that on her day Russo is a world top-five
gymnast and in that rarified group four fault-free routines would
bring a medal.
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