For two years she coached and trained herself,
battling daily with the mental strength needed to
stay motivated and keep her skills consistently
high.
When she returned to Perth she rejoined her Club
(Spirit Gym sports) and became part of the
aerodance team selected to compete at the World
Games.
The World Games, first held in 1981, are an
international multi-sport event, meant for sports, or
disciplines or events within a sport, that are not
contested in the Olympic Games. They are held
every four years. The 2013 World Games were
held in Cali, Colombia.
Unlike some sports where trials are held and if you win your division or make a required time you are on the team,
when it comes to aerobic gymnastics, selection can be a long process and involves some long term planning.
Often it involves making a set score at national championships to make a national squad. From there you can be
selected to compete at certain international competitions. A whole year of training comes down to the perfection of
one routine performed at nationals. If you don’t make the national squad at nationals, you have one more chance
later in the year to submit a video to be judged. However, as the team had already competed in a World Series the
first year aerodance was introduced, and won gold, they were automatically selected for the next world
championships where they qualified to compete at the World Games.
With their place confirmed they trained in earnest. They all train five to six times a week, and Janelle says there is no
time off.
"During competition season we train our skills and routines for fitness and maintaining/perfecting each routine, with a
bit of strength work included. In the off season, training gets even harder with sprints, plyometrics, strength and
learning new skills. It is often a painful time of year, but it usually only lasts about six to eight weeks. In preparation
for Colombia we also added altitude training to our schedule."
The routine was set, the costumes prepared and the team was excited. However it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The
competition was almost pulled by the International Gymnastics Federation as certain criteria for the safety of the
competitors were not met, but they made it, and from the minute they stepped out onto Colombian soil they were
treated like rock stars.
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