Blacktown boosts NSW to 117 gold, 79 silver and 86 bronze medals at Australian Gymnastics Championships

Blacktown gymnasts help spur NSW to huge medal tally at 2019 Australian Gymnastics Championships.

(Centre) Sydney Gymnastics and Aquatic Centre's Lleyton Pagett and Liam Christie took out Junior Under 22 Synchronised Trampoline gold for NSW at the 2019 National Gymnastics Championships.

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Blacktown gymnasts have helped spearhead NSW to a sensational performance at the Australian Gymnastics Championships with 23 local athletes claiming medals at the elite national competition.

After two weeks of intense competition across six separate gym sports, Gymnastics NSW’ 600-strong squad emerged with 117 gold, 79 silver and 86 bronze medals- more than any other state.

Leading the way for Blacktown’s athletes was 17-year old Liam Christie.

Christie was one of 19 Sydney Gymnastics Centre, Rooty Hill athletes to make the trip to Melbourne to represent their state last month.

Nationals marked the very first time that the star trampolinist competed in the senior international category on the double mini trampoline.

Despite a very competitive field, Christie shone on the big stage to come away with his first gold medal of the competition.

He later added to his tally with gold in individual trampoline and synchronised trampoline- which he won alongside fellow Sydney Gymnastics centre representative Lleyton Pagett.

Christie represented Australia at the 2018 Youth Olympics. Picture: Justin Sanson

The 2018 Youth Olympic representative was also a part of the NSW Team who took out gold in the team’s event and the Australian team that claimed gold over New Zealand in the trans-Tasman competition.

He was also selected onto both the Australian Senior and Junior National Squads for 2019.

Closely following in Christie’s footsteps was NSW High-performance Centre representative Tru Hagens.

Tru put together a complete performance across multiple disciplines as he cemented himself as one of the country’s best up-and-coming talents.

Despite having to settle for second-place on the high bar, Tru dominated the Level 7, under-13 division to be crowned state champion in floor, pommel horse, parallel bars and all-round.

Other top local performers included Aiden Lerch, Daniel Lawther, Refeal Velasco, Rome Uata and Siobhan Turner, who all came away with three first-place finishes in acrobatic gymnastics.

Gymnastics NSW chief executive Aaron Bloomfield said he was proud of everyone involved with the NSW team for their outstanding achievements.

“Team NSW has once again returned home with more national medals than any other state,” Mr Bloomfield said.

“With both Australian Champions and new National Squad members, it is clear that the last twelve months of hard work has paid off.”