Part 1 of 1994 Australian gymnastics documentary that looks at gymnasts training at the AIS in Canberra. Narrated by Monique Allen.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Monique credits then National Coach Ju Ping Tien for her success. And for changing forever the sport in Australia.
1991 World Championships in Indianapolis, the Australian women finished 6th as a team, the biggest “shocker” of the competition (aside from Pak Kim from North Korea winning Bars).
Many were highly impressed, including me. In fact, in 1993 I made a “research” trip to Australia to see how a “free” nation with a small population could be so successful. (I followed in the footsteps of coach Dana Brass who had done a similar tour the year prior.)
Ten days I spent at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, mightily impressed. However, over that period I was very much unimpressed with Ju Ping who seemed to coach inconsistently and in erratic ways. She’d storm into the gym, yell at a few kids and coaches, then storm out. It was a marked contrast to the Men’s Head Coach at the time, Warwick Forbes, calm, organized and focused.
I could be wrong about Ju Ping Tien. Many, many have told me that she did wonderful things during her era.
related – my Gymnastics in Australia ‘93 report
I hope to get back Down Under in January 2012.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 