Winmalee gymnast Jorja Maxwell has worked her way to the top of a national competition.
The rhythmic gymnast was competing in level eight at the National Clubs Championships on the Gold Coast on October 5 when she won a gold medal in the intricate apparatus “clubs” section for her baton juggling.
Jorja’s routine was to an electronic dub step piece of music, and involved a lot of balancing, pivots and twists and turns in the air.
“I was really excited. It feels really good to know that training so long, that hard, has paid off and made my coach proud and my club,” the 15-year-old said.
Jorja trains at Le Ray Gymnastics at Greenacre, whose founder Dani Le Ray competed in the 2000 Olympics in the sport.
“She’s a really talented gymnast,” Mrs Le Ray said.
She said it was fitting that someone who trained so hard, but had made mistakes due to nervousness at other top competitions, would do so well.
“She’s now realising her full potential and that’s motivating her now,” Mrs Le Ray said.
Jorja has been with the club for five years, and only started rhythmic gymnastics six years ago.
She trains three or four hours a week alongside two athletes who won bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games.
“It’s really inspiring to know that everyone can make it,” Jorja said.
The Winmalee High School student was also part of two groups which placed first and second at the national competition.
