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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Josh Callinan

Pickering flying high after making maiden Games

IN: Jessica Pickering. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

Belmont North trampolinist Jessica Pickering will make her Olympic debut in Tokyo after being named on the Australian gymnastics team.

The announcement was made on Saturday, less than one month out from the Games.

Eleven athletes were selected, all rookies and nearly matching Australia's largest squad of 12 sent to Tokyo in 1964.

Pickering was was selected alongside Sydney trampolinist Dominic Clarke.

The 20-year-old, who scored a silver medal at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires 2018, secured a career-best World Cup result last month by finishing fifth in Italy.

"The build-up to these Games has been quite extraordinary and to be able to send across 11 gymnasts; our largest team in nearly 60 years, is a testament to the resilience, strength and determination of our gymnasts and their coaches," Gymnastics Australia CEO Kitty Chiller said.

"Representing your country at an Olympic Games is an achievement only a small number of people get to experience.

"I want to wish all our gymnasts the very best as they strive to achieve their personal goals, while competing against the world's best."

Emily Whitehead, Tyson Bull, Georgia Godwin (artistic), Lidiia Iakovleva (rhythmic individual), Emily Abbott, Alexandra Aristoteli, Alannah Matthews, Himeka Onoda and Felicity White (rhythmic team) were the others to get the nod.

Competition will be held at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre between July 24 and August 8. Trampoline will be on July 30 and 31.

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