Photo credits: Getty Images
Gymnasts Mikhail (Misha) Koudinov from North Harbour Gymnastics and Courtney McGregor from Christchurch School of Gymnastics, have each qualified Olympic spots, at the Test Event in Rio this week.
Confirming the Olympic spots are dependent on selection by the NZ Olympic Committee, with athletes having to meet their over–riding criteria of a top 16 capability with the potential to finish in the top 8 in Rio.
Misha made his debut on the world stage in 2006 as the youngest member of the NZ Team at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Now 10 years on, his dream of making an Olympics is finally within reach. 2015 saw him in a World Cup final in Croatia, and a stand out 23rd place on parallel bars at World Championships.
Photo credits: Getty Images
Courtney has continued her upwards trajectory from a 17th place vault finish at the World Championships last year, a bronze medal at the Pacific Rim Championships last week and a 4th place finish in her vault final this morning. Shortly after her return from Test Event, Courtney is off to Summer School in the US, before embarking on her full-ride gymnastics scholarship at Boise State University.
The road to Rio is a long one for our gymnasts and we look forward to checking off that final step for them with a successful nomination to the NZOC and subsequent announcement by 13th May.
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“The achievements by Misha and Courtney are outstanding and are due reward for an extraordinary amount of hard work. Both athletes have now made a compelling case for Olympic Team selection which we will present to the NZOC in the coming week. Having both male and female representation in Rio would deliver a significant boost to our sport and signal our intent to deliver more on the international stage.” – Tony Compier, CEO GymSports NZ
“Misha did a great job under pressure, and did himself, his coaches, and his country proud.” – David Phillips, Test Event Coach and Sydney Olympian (Men’s Artistic Gymnastics)
“I’m really happy to have hit all six of my routines today and to have gained an FIG (International Gymnastics Federation) allocation to the Olympic Games.” – Misha Koudinov
“My heart is bursting with pride while Courtney’s is humbly accepting congratulations.” – Mary Wright, Coach of Courtney McGregor
Misha’s Qualifying scores – Olympic Test Event
Floor 13.966
Pommel 13.275
Rings 13.300
Vault 14.366
Parallel bars 14.566
High bar 13.566
AA 83.039
Qualified 91st /97