World championship medallists Lauren Mitchell, Prashanth Sellathurai and Philippe Rizzo will lead Australia's gymnastics team for October's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, sports officials said Thursday.
World championship medallists Lauren Mitchell, Prashanth Sellathurai and Philippe Rizzo will lead Australia's gymnastics team for October's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, sports officials said Thursday.
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The Australian women's team will be competing for their fourth consecutive team gold medal when they take to the floor at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
Mitchell, 19, last year became the first Australian woman to win a medal in an individual apparatus final at a world championships, with silver on the beam and floor.
Mitchell will be joined in the women's team by fellow Beijing Olympians Georgia Bonora and Ashleigh Brennan, Gymnastics Australia said.
The Australian men will be after their first team gold medal in New Delhi, but will need to break the stronghold of England and Canada.
Four of the five team members from the last Melbourne Commonwealth Games return, while 2006 world high bar champion Rizzo will become the first Australian gymnast to compete at four Commonwealth Games.
Rizzo, 29, began his international career at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Games, and over the last three editions has added three gold, four silver and three bronze medals.
The men's team also includes 2006 Commonwealth Games all-around and rings gold medallist Joshua Jefferis, dual world championships pommel horse medallist Sellathurai and national all-around champion Sam Offord.
Beijing Olympian Naazmi Johnston will spearhead the three-member Australian rhythmic team.
Australia are yet to claim a team gold medal in rhythmic gymnastics with Canada winning in 1994 and 2006 and Malaysia in 1998.
Australian team - Women: Georgia Bonora, Ashleigh Brennan, Emily Little, Lauren Mitchell, Maryanne Monckton. Men: Joshua Jefferis, Sam Offord, Thomas Pichler, Philippe Rizzo, Prashanth Sellathurai.
Rhythmic Gymnastics: Naazmi Johnston, Janine Murray, Danielle Prince.
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