Five golds for Gabrielle at world champs

By Gabrielle Salmon

My name is Gabrielle Salmon and this year I competed in the Down Syndrome World Championships.

Rhythic gymnastics is a form of gymnastics emphasizing dance like rhythmic routines.

During my routine I use a ball, a hoop, a ribbon and two clubs.

I am practising Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays in Sacred Heart School at Orakei, and Tuesdays during lunch times at Baradene School. So I am practising 4 times a week.

At practice, I run for 5 laps and do stretches to music for warm up. I work on the difficult parts of my routines eg: balances. But every lesson I practise with my hoop, ribbon, ball and clubs.

On the Thursday before the holidays, I went to my school Rhythmic Gymnastic competition at Bruce Pulman Park.

Two months ago, I won this medal in Counties Manukau Gymnastics competition.

I left for Germany on the 30th of June and came back on the 13th of July. We took a plane to Germany. First we stopped at Bali Airport. Then we took another plane to Dubai and a last plane to Frankfurt. We finished our trip by taking a train to Boppard. That was a long trip!

Hannah, my coach, and Mum came with me.

We did lots of fun things before the competition, like visiting Cologne Cathedral and the Markberg Castle.

I took part in my Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition in Bochum.

I won four gold medals for my events and another gold medal for overall winner.

My leotard was black, white and skin colour.

On our way home we visited Amsterdam where we went to the Anne Frank House, the Royal Palace and the canals.

I was proud representing New Zealand and made lots of new friends from other countries.