Latest Update! :)

The pressure is already on Australia's gymnasts to continue their sustained improvement in world competition with national AOC boss John Coates earmarking the sport capable of producing its first Olympic medals in London.

Versatile Perth teenager Lauren Mitchell has pushed expectation the most after a superb display at last year's world titles in London - two silver medals plus a narrow fourth in the testing all-around competition.

"For us the world championships is our Olympic qualifier so it's our main competition and we are kind of treating the Commonwealth Games as a preparation comp," said Mitchell, who is returning from a series of injuries.
"As I haven't competed all year that's how I'm viewing Delhi - as a lead-up competition.
"I'm trying to put a positive spin on them being very close together."

Appearance in the Common Wealth Games :
The 19-year-old Perth gymnast has enjoyed success on the world stage to mark her as a genuine gold medal contender in four events - the floor, beam, all-around and team's competition. But Mitchell must overcome a litany of injury dramas with hand, ankle and groin problems significantly affecting her preparations this year.

Wanna see Lauren in Action?

Here is a video of Lauren Mitchell performing her Beam Balance routine at the 2009 Western Australian Nationals where she placed first ! Enjoy :)

2009 : Her Most Successful Year Yet

Deng Linlin of China, center, Lauren Mitchell of Australia, left, and Ivana Hong of U.S., display their gold, silver and bronze medal, respectively, in the women's balance beam final during the World Gymnastics Championships at the O2 Arena in London, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009.

2009

In July 2009, Lauren took first place in the all-around at the Australian National Championships in Perth with a score of 112.325 to claim her first national title. She also won titles on uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise convincingly. After two successful days of trial competition in Canberra, including a new Yurchenko double vault, Lauren was named to the 2009 London World Championships team. She is slated to compete on all four apparatus as all-around qualification and has a good chance to make beam or floor finals. She currently attends Iona Presentation College, Mosman Park.

In October at the 2009 London World Championships, Mitchell finished fourth all-around by only 0.025, which was especially disappointing since she took a 0.1 deduction on floor for stepping out of bounds. Mitchell rallied during the apparatus finals by winning two silver medals, the highest placing of any Australian gymnast at a World level. She won the silver on balance beam with a score of 14.825, .125 behind Deng Linlin, and won silver on floor with a score of 14.550, .100 behind Beth Tweddle.

2008

2008

She competed for Australia in the women's artistic team all-around event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In December 2008 Mitchell became the first Australian gymnast to win a gold medal at a World Cup final when she won gold on the balance beam in Madrid.She would also, technically, hold the title indefinitely as the World Cup Final series was since disbanded.

Rising Gymnast : 2007

In 2007, her first year as a Senior Gymnast, she was the Australian Balance Beam Champion. Mitchell competed at the 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships where the Australian team finished a disappointing 11th in the preliminary competition. However, Mitchell qualified for the Balance Beam event final, where she placed a very respectable 5th, equalling Monette Russo as Australia's highest ever finisher in a Balance Beam World Final .

Mitchell later stated that she was nervous prior to the final, but pretended she was in training to calm her nerves. Lauren Mitchell started Gymnastics as she enjoyed it as a young child.

After her strong showing at her debut World Championships, Lauren went on to compete in several international events. At the DTB Cup in Germany, she won a Silver Medal on Beam and a Bronze medal on floor. She followed this up at the Good Luck Beijing event held at what will be the venue for the 2008 Summer Olympics, she won the silver medal on the balance beam in what was a very competitive line up.

Some Interesting Facts...:)

She is the 2009 World Championships silver medalist on balance beam and floor.
Mitchell is only the second Australian woman gymnast to win medals at a World Championships.
She currently trains at the Western Australian Institute of Sport.

She is coached by Martine Georghe and Nikolai Lapachine

About Lauren Mitchell

• Full name: Lauren Mitchell
• Country represented: Australia
• Date of birth: July 23, 1991 (1991-07-23) (age 19)
• Place of birth: Subiaco, Australia
• Home town: Perth, Australia
• Discipline: Women's artistic gymnastics
• Level: Senior