GYMNASTICS - ARTISTIC: Dual Olympian Larrissa Miller has failed to qualify for the women’s artistic gymnastics finals but can hold her head high after posting one of her highest international scores in the Qualification Round today.
Miller’s 14.533 (difficulty of 6.1) was one of her best ever on uneven bars; and her floor routine (difficulty of 6.4 if executed) was near faultless until the final seconds coming out of a difficult tumble. The fault attracted a full 1.0 point deduction, leaving her with a score of 12.733.
The scores saw her finish 30th overall in the bars and 67th on the floor.
Miller's coach John Hart said: "Although we are both very disappointed right now after the fall on floor I am extremely proud of Larrissa's efforts.
"We knew she had to put everything on the line to have a chance of making finals in such a strong field and she fought hard the whole time. We were both very happy with her bars performance.”
Miller, 24, who was Australia’s sole women’s artistic representative after failing to qualify a team for the Olympics for the first time in 28 years, was emotional after the high of her bars performance and the disappointment of her floor routine.
"I trained for four years for this,” she said. “I went for my full difficulty and I fell at the end (floor).
"I didn't hold anything back. I really went for it. Now I just feel like getting back out there and doing gym training.
"What's upsetting is knowing I have the potential to be in the finals if I hit my routines."
Meanwhile, Australia’s other two gymnasts trampolinist Blake Gaudry and rhythmic gymnast Danielle Prince will continue to train in preparation for their competition on August 13 and 19 respectively.
Tracie Edmondson
olympics.com.au