Congratulations to our gymnasts of the year, as announced at the XP New Zealand Gymnastics Championships. Please see their citations below.

Brooke Davies – Aerobics

Brooke is a member of Rise Club. During the past 12 months, she has undertaken four international competitions at elite level.

• 2023 Plovdiv Cup placing 13th (res 3) (qualification to world championships)
• 2023 Romania Cup placing 22nd
• 2024 Aquae France qualifying 2nd in heats and 6th in finals
• 2024 Cantanhede World Cup placing 19th

Brooke is a good role model for others, she is always willing to assist younger athletes and share her experiences. She is acknowledged as a positive and supportive sportsperson in relation to behaviour and attitude throughout both training and competition.

Brooke was selected to represent New Zealand at the Aerobics World Championships, the dates of which coincide with the XP New Zealand Gymnastics Championships (and she is unable to attend in person to collect her award).

Ben Stein – Men’s artistic

2024 has been a successful year for Ben in his first year as a senior international gymnast. Earlier in the competition year he competed at the Kerrin Bishop Memorial, Auckland/Manukau Championships, and the Tri Star regional competitions, in his first events as a senior international gymnast. His results on his ‘favoured’ apparatus provided evidence of his ability. At the Kerrin Bishop Memorial, Ben’s first competition as a senior international gymnast, he showed potential on two apparatus with finals scores of 13.633 on floor (1st placing) and parallel bars 12.066 (2nd placing). His second competition as a senior international gymnast was the Tri Star senior championships where he placed 3rd all around with a score of 65.966; Ben qualified for an apparatus final with a 1st place on floor 13.70; 2nd place on rings
12.533 and 1st place on vault 13.40 (Day #1). In the apparatus finals he medaled with a 2nd place on floor and 1st place on rings. Based on his performances he was selected to represent New Zealand in the
MAG Pacific Alliance Team hosted in Colombia, where he scored an all around score of 72.55 and qualified for apparatus finals in both floor and parallel bars, and took the silver medal on floor.

Congratulations Ben on this outstanding achievement.

Georgia-Rose Brown – Women’s artistic

Formally competing as an Australian representative gymnast, in 2024 Georgia transferred to her mother’s homeland of New Zealand and commenced her Olympic Games competition year as a member of Tristar
Gymnastics. Both the New Zealand Olympic Committee and Gymnastics New Zealand endorsed her change in nationality.

Following on from her attendance at a WAG senior squad training session she honoured New Zealand with her World Cup performances and ultimately her selection to represent New Zealand in the Olympic Games.

Georgia’s outstanding World Cup performances on uneven bars at Cairo (4th – 13.70), Baku (4th – 13.633), Doha (5th – 13.366), and Cottbus (5th – 13.533) resulted in her being one out of eight gymnasts, from seven countries throughout the world, who qualified an Olympic quota spot through the apparatus World Cup series. This was an honour for both Georgia-Rose and New Zealand.

In the Olympic Games all-around competition she scored 51.465 (vault – 13.233, uneven bars – 13.666, beam – 12.333, floor – 12.33).

We congratulate Georgia on her international results and her support and fellowship as a member of the New Zealand WAG senior squad.

Havana Hopman – Rhythmic

August 2023 was the start of Havana’s 2023/2024 season through to the current time. Her competition year included two international tournaments, one World Challenge Cup, four World Cups, one continental championships and a world championships.

Havana’s highlights include

• a top 39 All Around rank All Around in a World Championship
• Qualification in Ribbon apparatus final at Aphrodite Cup.
• Achieving World Cup points for 17/18 rankings.
• rankings in Clubs and Ribbon at Tashket World Cup.
• Having the highest Ribbon difficulty score at Tashkent WC.

Havana is an amazing role model. She displays positive sporting behaviour and attitude in all aspects of her life. Her work ethic and approach to training is outstanding and this is also visible in her preparation for performance at competitions. Havana is an example of what can be achieved with hard work, commitment, and determination. She has a positive approach and willingness to work with her coaches who have contributed to her constantly improving performances, scores, and rankings at international events.

She assists with her club coaching of juniors and takes a leadership role in training sessions. Havana is a willing volunteer at club events and is involved with set up and pack down, marshaling, and presentation of awards.

Overall Havana is an amazing role model for the rhythmic community.

Dylan Schmidt – Trampoline

In his build-up and preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games Dylan has competed internationally at four World Cup events throughout the 2023/2024 annual competition season. He represented New Zealand at the World Championships 2023, World Cup events in Baku (10th), Cottbus (4th), Comibra (8th), and the Olympic Games (8th).

Dylan is an excellent person who supports his sport through judging and coaching on a weekly basis (sharing his knowledge). He is also an Olympic ambassador whom frequently visits schools around New Zealand, encouraging students in all sports, and sharing his inspirational story.

Dylan is an appointed member of the NZ Leaders Workshop and is an excellent role model with strong values and dedication.

In the 2024 Olympic Games Dylan was placed 4th overall in the qualification round and placed 8th in finals.

Overall, Dylan is an amazing role model for not only trampolinists, but for young Kiwis in all sports.

Madaline (Maddie) Davidson – Trampoline

Maddie is a member of Olympia Gymnastics Sports. Her international events in relation to her build up for the 2024 Olympic Games were the Coimbra World Cup (14th), Australia Nationals (1st), World Cup Cottbus (6th), World Cup Baku (11th).

Maddie is not only an elite level athlete, she is also a senior advanced judge. Maddie is recognised as a positive role model by her younger club athletes. She shows incredible dedication to training, competition, and respect for her fellow competitors, teammates, and coaches alike. She sets a high standard for others to follow.

Maddie’s incredible competition results are a testament to her strength and positive attitude. Her ability to remain composed in high-level events on the world stage is inspiring. As a role model Maddie inspires younger athletes to strive for excellence whilst upholding the values of respect, sportsmanship
and perseverance.

She qualified for her second Olympic Games in 2024 where she made finals and produced her best performance to earn 7th place. Congratulations Maddie.