Gold Medal Gymnastics granted near-$100,000 pool of funds, a first since pre-COVID for the sport

A small gymnastics club on the Gold Coast is the first in five years to receive a near six-figure government grant, which they say is one small step towards a larger goal. Read more:

Gold Medal Gymnastics athletes, via Instagram

A small gymnastics club on the Gold Coast has received nearly $100,000 in funding which they say is one small step towards a larger goal.

Gold Medal Gymnastics, located in Molendinar, were awarded $99,799.98 from the 121st round of Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF) grants in September 2024, with CEO Liz Uruci stating the figure would be put solely towards equipment the club needs to continue coaching its junior athletes.

“If we didn’t get that grant funding, we would be limited in our delivery ... the competitive side of gymnastics we wouldn’t be able to offer,” she said.

“As soon as the doors opened, we worked on that application ... several hours, multiple pages, multiple supporting documents.

“It increases our ability to coach more kids and increase their skill levels.

“At some point, the kids we’re coaching would need to progress with equipment and we’re being held back by that.

“Because the equipment is so expensive, without funding, it would take years to reach (that) point.”

On first glance a six-digit figure seems substantial, but Urici explained that money would slip away just as quick.

Each foam mat costs $2000, while a new floor alone will set them back upward of $20,000.

“It’s entirely going toward equipment,” Uruci said.

“There are other things we need funding for, like infrastructure, but that has to come from a different grant source.

“It doesn’t seem like a lot when you look at it from a numbers perspective.”

Gold Medal Gymnastics athletes, via Instagram

Gold Medal is the first gymnastics club on the Gold Coast to receive this amount of GCBF funding since pre-Covid times.

Uruci was unaware at the time and said she was shocked to discover so much time had passed, though had remained optimistic during the application process.

“I didn’t know what the chances would be ... we just went in with a positive mindset.”
It comes around the same time the club welcomed a Special Olympics team into their gym as part of a bigger goal: to grow the sport and provide opportunities to any and all aspiring gymnasts.

At the beginning of the year, Gold Medal Gymnastics were involved in Gold Coast Recreation & Sport’s inclusive program which strives to provide adaptive ability sports to individuals.

“We would get together and talk, and it was very evident we just needed to get more people involved regardless of their abilities,” Uruci said.

“Gymnastics is for everyone.

“We’ve stuck with our adaptive class and also started adult classes that meet once a week.

“So when the (Special Olympics) coach came to us and asked, we said yes. It was a no brainer.

“It’s our hope to get more exposure and be able to have more people interested in joining and participating.

“It was really important to us.”