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The career of Australia’s most decorated gymnast – Lauren Mitchell – could be over, after she was pipped for a Rio Olympics berth by Larrissa Miller.
Miller will be one of three gymnasts Australia sends to the Games, the 23-year-old Victorian to be joined by rhythmic gymnast Danielle Prince and trampolinist Blake Gaudry.
The selection of Miller – a specialist on the uneven bars and floor – is likely to spell the end of Mitchell on the international stage, the 2010 floor world champion failing in her bid to make it to a third Olympics.
Having recovered from a knee reconstruction in July last year, Mitchell returned to competition at last month’s national championships in Melbourne.
The 24-year-old showed she had lost none of her old magic in winning the beam final, but was relegated to third behind Miller and Emily Little on the floor.
Selectors were no doubt impressed by the mental fortitude exhibited by Miller, who won the floor final just 24 hours after two falls cruelled Miller – who was the red-hot favourite – in the uneven bars final.
And having made it to a second Games team, Miller is now focussed on making a final on either of her two apparatus – having finished 29th on the bars and 42nd at her first Olympics in London.
“The first Olympic Games it was more about the experience, but now it’s about being able to perform better and be more goal focused,” said Miller, who took out silver on the bar at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
“I’d really like to make a floor final.”
Miller had predominately been a bars specialist, before realising she had the talent to mix it with the best on the floor when she made the final of the event at the 2014 world championships.
She will head to Rio with a bit of form under the belt at the Games venue, finishing second on floor and fifth on bars at the test event in April.
Gaudry secured his ticket to Rio after winning his seventh national title, and will now seek to improve on his efforts in London when a fall on his second routine cost the 24-year-old a spot in the final.
“As soon as London was over, my eyes were on Rio so it’s pretty special to be selected,” Gaudry said.
“I’m working on bigger routines with a high degree of difficulty.”
Prince’s berth was assured after she finished as the highest Oceania competitor at the Rio test event.