Nickname
Alex, Smalex (gymnastics.org.au, 09 Apr 2018)
Hobbies
Spending time at the beach, watching television, listening to music, supporting English football team Liverpool. (gymnastics.org.au, 09 Apr 2018; gc2018.com, 2017)
Occupation
Athlete, Student
Education
Biomedical Science - Deakin University: Geelong, VIC, AUS
Spoken languages
English
Club
National Centre of Excellence: Melbourne, VIC, AUS
Coach
Peggy Liddick [club]; Mihai Brestyan [national], ROU; Shaoyi Jiang [personal]; Qing Hua Yang [personal]; Michelle De Highden [personal]
Sporting relatives
Her father has represented New Zealand in rowing. (gymnastics.org.au, 09 Apr 2018)
Injuries
In 2014 she had to have both arms broken because her ulna bones were too long. "I had growth problems with my ulnas, they had to broken and shortened. It was bad luck, it had nothing to do with gymnastics, I would have had to have them done anyway." She has had three other surgeries since 2014, including an operation on the bone spur in her left wrist in 2017. (news.com.au, 10 Apr 2018)
Start sporting career
She began gymnastics at age four.
Reason for taking up the sport
"I began by doing ballet, but found it too boring, so one of the parents recommended gymnastics."
Ambitions
To compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (intlgymnast.com, 07 Mar 2018)
Most memorable sporting achievement
Winning gold in the individual floor exercise event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, QLD, Australia. (Instagram profile, 09 Aug 2018; deakin.edu.au, 10 Apr 2018)
Hero / Idol
US artistic gymnast Shawn Johnson. (gc2018.com, 2017)
Most influential person in career
Coach Tracey Penaluna and her mother. (gc2018.com, 2017)
Rituals
Before each event she likes to listen to music. (gc2018.com, 2017)
Philosophy / Motto
"It's not bragging if you can back it up." (gymnastics.org.au, 09 Apr 2018)
Last update : 2024-07-22
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