KEILOR gymnast Tayla Dinuccio was crowned national champion for the Pike Tsukahara Vault at the Australian Gymnastic Championships in Brisbane last month.
The talented national Level 7 athlete produced a stunning performance on the big stage in her pet event.
Dinuccio, 14, outclassed much older opponents to receive her first Australian title and continue her rapid development in the sport.
“She was so excited and really performed well,” proud mother Lynne said. “She also placed 17th overall in the two-day competition, which is a pretty good effort.
“It was great reward for her and she was just rapt with the results, which she has worked so hard for.
The championships were held in Brisbane from 1 to 8 July with Dinuccio representing Victoria.
She was rewarded for persistence after twice failing to earn a spot in the state team over the past three years.
In the teams event in Brisbane Dinuccio also won a bronze medal in the Level 7 category. The second day of competition was for individual and apparatus finals, with the latter including vault, bars, beam and floor.
Dinuccio trains 18 hours a week over five days at the Niddrie Gymnastics Club under the guidance of coach Natalie Roberts.
“She works very hard and has a very good coach,” Lynne said. “She has loved gymnastics ever since she took it up.”
Dinuccio, who is in year nine at Keilor Downs Secondary College, has been involved in gymnastics for seven years. She also excelled at the Victorian Championships at the State Netball and Hockey Centre on the Queen’s Birthday weekend in June.
Her Level 7 team from Niddrie finished in first place and Dinuccio placed runner-up on vault.
