Pearl Coast athletes return from Perth with medal swag

Broome’s Pearl Coast Gymnastics Club sent a team of young athletes to the Perth Winter State Championship at the end of June, and came home with a plethora of medals after a fantastic collective display.

The Kimberley club were the only attendees from outside the State capital, and have been fundraising all year to afford the trip.

Thirteen boy gymnasts and one girl athlete made the trip, and were extremely competitive against top-notch opposition.

The male competitors competed in six disciplines — floor, pommel horse, vault, horizontal bar, rings and parallel bars.

In the national level 1 competition, Jet Heal, Charlie Pascoe, Thomas Pigrim and Udi Bin Swani were awarded silver medals. Marcus Pigrim and Rattanakasatpong Phirawit collected bronze medals.

Of the national level 2 competitors, 10-year-old Brayden Heal put in a standout performance to be awarded a gold medal. Harper Kirkby and Leroy Pigrim also excelled with silver medals.

The national level 3 gymnasts represented Broome well, with Kyal Highlands and AJ Pigram receiving silver medals, and Taite Jones winning a bronze.

At national level 4, Elijah Neesham was awarded a silver medal on vault, and finished fifth overall on high bar. Pearl Coast’s level 6 female gymnast Tian Hall achieved the highly commendable position of eighth in the State at her level, amongst stiff competition.

She competed on four apparatus — floor, beam, uneven bars and vault — and impressed throughout the events.

Pearl Coast Gymnastics Club’s head coach Krystal Cilia was delighted with the performance of the Broome gymnasts.