NORTH Richmond tumbler Molly Mamo won a gold medal at the 2017 FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Age Group Competition, which was held in Bulgaria last year.
The 12-year-old topped her age group, beating out a Russian competitor to have the best score at the event.
Mamo was accompanied to the event by her local coach, Dima Kachan, who was also one of the coaches of the Australian squad.
While Mamo won the event, she had a few nervous moments after completing her final routine.
Her closest competitor, Russia’s Arina Kaliandra, still had a final routine to perform.
Kaliandra had beaten Mamo in the qualifying round, but her final routine did not score enough to top Mamo’s effort.
“In the finals I was second last to tumble with routine of round off, whip, double tuck, whip, three flips and finished with another double tuck and landing on my feet,” she said.
“It guaranteed me a medal as it put me into first place.
But I still had one more competitor after me, and it was Arina. She did her pass as I waited happily on the viewing lounge knowing that I was at the least guaranteed silver. She completed her pass and I realised when her score came up on the screen that I had won gold.”
The scores were tight. Mamo scored 32.500 while Kaliandra scored 32.000.
Mamo said it was an incredible feeling to know she had won.
“It felt amazing and overwhelming knowing that my coach Dima Kachan and I have worked hard towards has paid off,” she said.
“Representing my country was a amazing experience and winning the gold made me and my family extremely proud.”
Mamo said her next goal was to qualify for the 2019 World Age Group Competition, to be hosted in Japan.
In the meantime, she said she wanted to keep working on her tumbling ability.