Sunshine Coast’s next generation gymnastics talents

Across the Sunshine Coast our region is filled with a number of up and coming or established gymnastics stars. See the list of 17 young talents identified by their coaches.

Coaches from across the Sunshine Coast have revealed which rising gymnastics talents could one day be representing Australia on the world stage.

From Cooroy, Maroochydore and Woombye our region’s best rising talents have been identified by their coaches as ones to keep an eye on for future honours.

The list is in no particular order and each gymnast identified has comments from their coach or club personnel.

All clubs were approached for a comment before the time of publishing.

Impact Gymnastics

John Sterio

Age: 16

Best/Favourite Events: Sterio thrives at State Championships and loves competing in both Trampoline and DMT. He even competed tumbling in 2021 and managed to place at his first state event.

John Sterio is one of the Sunshine Coast's most exciting and talented young gymnasts. Picture: Samantha Hooper

Major Achievements: State Champion two years in a row and was a Ninja Warrior Finalist in 2022.

Athletic aspirations: Sterio said he wanted to qualify for Nationals 2023, as he is older he will have to go in an elite division so he is keen to work hard and go for it.

Brooklyn Robertson

Age: 15

Best/Favourite Events: Trampoline is Robertson’s strongest event however her DMT program is catching up to being just as strong.

Brooklyn Robertson is one of the Sunshine Coast's most exciting and talented young gymnasts. Picture: Samantha Hooper

Major Achievements: Robertson has just stepped into senior level trampolining and almost qualified for Nationals at her first qualifier. She consistently places at her competitions and is ready to qualify for Nationals 2023 at her next event.

Athletic aspirations: Working hard and being focused is Robertson’s mission to help her achieve her goal of Qualifying and Placing at Nationals in 2023 and beyond.

River Pegrum

Age: 6

Best/Favourite Events: Bars is Pegrum’s favourite and strongest event. She is a hard worker and has amazing strength and flexibility for her age.

River Pegrum is one of the Sunshine Coast's most exciting and talented young gymnasts.

Major Achievements: At age six Pegrum placed at the Sunshine Coast Regionals, at her third ever competition, and was the youngest in her division.

Athletic aspirations: Pegrum said she wanted to represent Queensland at Nationals in Level 7-10, she is excited to make it into State Team Training Squads in 2023.

Cooroy Gymnastics Club

Neve Whitehill

Age: 9

Best/Favourite Events: Uneven Bars

Cooroy Gymnastics rising star Neve Whitehill.

Major Achievements: Whitehill has won all four events in level three that she has entered this year including the Sunshine Coast Regional Championships.

Athletic aspirations: She will move to level five in 2023 and is on the pathway for higher competitive representation in the near future.

Isabella Dean

Age: 12

Best/Favourite Events: Floor Routine

Cooroy Gymnastics rising star Isabella Dean.

Major Achievements: Isabella this year has excelled in level five and will compete at the upcoming Junior State Championships and Regional Challenge representing the Sunshine Coast Region. Isabella was also the Sunshine Coast Regional Champion.

Athletic aspirations: Isabella aspires to represent Qld at the Australian Championships once reaching level eight.

Izzy McKay-Masterton

Age: 12

Cooroy Gymnastics rising star Izzy McKay-Masterton.

Major Achievements: Mckay-Masterton competed level four at the Regional Championships winning medals on apparatus, qualifying for the Junior State Championships and the Regional Team to compete in the Regional Challenge event.

Athletic aspirations: Mckay-Masterton said sheaspires to represent Queensland at the Australian Championships.

Sunshine Coast Gymnastics Academy

Coach: Rimma Lazarus

Squad: WAG Senior Squad Level 6+

Sunshine Coast Gymnastics Academy talents Emily Griggs, Tatiana Holzheimer, Lily Sketcher, Casey Kemen, Addison Brown and Layla-Rose Tedge.

Addison Brown (Level Six)

Age: 12

Favourite event: Beam

Major Achievement: Getting selected for the regional team and winning gold at the state championships in 2021.

Athletic aspiration: To continually better herself by setting goals and reaching her achievements.

If you don’t train hard your dreams won’t come true.

By working hard and giving it her best it will make her the best gymnast she can be.

Arielah Daybell (Level seven)

Age: 14

Favourite event: Bars

Major achievement: Placing at State on bars.

Athletic aspiration: “Not letting negativity get in the way and work hard to achieve the next big step,” she said.

Emily Griggs (Level Six)

Age: 12

Favourite event: Bars

Major achievement: Silver medal at state championships for bars in 2021 and being part of the regional team that won gold at state championships in 2021.

Athletic aspirations: “Continue to work hard, train hard and reach level 10,” she said.

Tatiana Holzheimer (Level Six)

Age: 13

Favourite event: Vault and Bars

Major Achievement: Placing first All Around at two competitions in a row.

Athletic Aspirations: “Continue to set goals and train hard to achieve them, work hard to be the best gymnast I can be,” she said.

Casey Kemen (Level Six)

Age: 15

Favourite Event: Vault

Major achievement: Perfect 10 on Vault at State club championships 2021.

Athletic Aspiration: “Continue to work hard, strive to give my best and see where my gymnastics journey takes me,” she said.

Kristina Lazarus (Level Seven)

Age: 15

Favourite Event: Beam

Major Achievement: Qualifying to the regional team; AA 3rd at the Regional Championships in 2021.

Athletic aspiration: “Work hard at every training and my long term goal is to represent Queensland at the Border Challenge or the Nationals,” she said.

Grace Villano, Ava Villano, Kristina Lazarus, Arielah Daybell and Tahlia Shields from the Sunshine Coast Gymnastics Academy.

Tahlia Shields (Level Seven)

Age: 15

Favourite Event: Beam

Major Achievement: Regional team selection levels 4-6 and team future selection.

Athletic Aspiration: “To work hard and get to level 10,” she said.

Lily Sketcher (Level Six)

Age: 13

Favourite Event: Floor

Major Achievement: Two-time silver medallist and finished third overall at the State Championships in 2021.

Athletic Aspiration: “To train hard, always give my best efforts, to become the best gymnast I can be and do my best at all competitions,” she said.

Layla-Rose Tedge (Level Six)

Age: 12

Favourite Event: Vault

Major Achievement: A bronze medallist at the State Championships for Vault in 2021.

Athletic aspiration: “To set goals and work hard to achieve them and be the best I can be,” she said.

Ava Villano (Level Nine)

Age: 19

Best Event: Uneven Bars

Major Achievement: Senior State Champion on uneven bars in 2021.

Athletic Aspiration: “Applying hard work, effort, perseverance and persistence into every aspect of training,” she said.

“That will be in order to perform and be successful at competition in order to make the National Team.”

Grace Villano (Level Eight)

Age: 17

Best Event: Balance Beam

Major Achievement: Senior State Champion on balance beam in 2021.

Athletic Aspiration: “Patience, striving and attention to detail on every skill in order to perform with confidence and master goals,” she said.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast’s next generation gymnastics talents