Former OSU Gymnasts Medal in International Competitions
May 30, 2012
Former Oregon State gymnasts Olivia Vivian and Laura-Ann Chong performed well at their countries' national championships last weekend. Vivian won the Australian national title on the uneven bars, while Chong finished third on the bars at the Canadian National Championships.
Vivian, an Olympian in 2008, and Chong are both seeking spots on their countries respective Olympic teams.
Vivian, who recently returned to her native Australia to train for her national team following an All-American career at OSU from 2009-12, had to make the adjustment to FIG (Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique) settings on the uneven bars. She tallied scores of 5.6 in Difficulty and 8.900 in the Execution to total 14.500 to win the national title in the senior division, keeping open the possibility of earning a spot on the Australian Olympic team. Read more about Olivia on thecouchgymnast.com.
"Two weeks ago I got back here and then had to adjust to FIG settings on the bars," Vivian recently told thecouchgymnast.com. "I did a control (test routine) and I fell three or four times. I think everyone didn't really expect this out of it. I came in and I just worked hard all week and the coaches have been great!"
Chong, who performed for the Beavers from 2007-10, received a D-score of 5.2 and an E-score of 8.250 to total 13.450 for third place. She'll now await an invitation to the Olympic Selection Training Camp which takes place at the end of June. Prior to last weekend's national championships, Chong had not competed internationally for Canada during this Olympic cycle making her a longshot for selection. Invitations are expected to be extended in the next few weeks.
"I wish I would have done better in the all-around but I'm very happy about getting a medal on bars," Chong said. "It is my first nationals medal as a senior and really makes it worth it to come back."
DAY TWO ROUTINE
FINALS ROUTINE
