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Mitchell stars at gymnastics nationals

 

Mitchell stars at gymnastics nationals

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AOC
Mitchell stars at gymnastics nationals

Hometown favourite Lauren Mitchell backed up her win in the all-around to take out three of the four apparatus honours on the final night of the women's national gymnastics championships in Perth.

Hometown favourite Lauren Mitchell backed up her win in the all-around to take out three of the four apparatus honours on the final night of the women's national gymnastics championships in Perth.

Mitchell, Australia's first ever world champion on the floor at last year's world titles in Rotterdam, dominated proceedings at Challenge Stadium on Sunday night to claim victory in the vault, beam and floor.

The West Australian teenager - who celebrates her 20th birthday this week - is considered Australia's leading medal hope heading to October's world championships in Tokyo as well next year's London Olympics.

Comeback girl Chloe Sims, who is back in the sport trying to secure an Olympic berth after retiring ahead of the 2008 Games in Beijing, took out the bars.

National women's coach Peggy Liddick will name an extended squad to attend a training squad in Canberra in September, from which the team to compete at the world champions will be selected.

At the rhythmic nationals at Perth's Loftus Recreation Centre, Queensland's Danielle Prince backed up her win the all-around to take out three of the four disciplines on Sunday night.

Prince claimed gold in the ball, clubs and hoop, local hope Janine Murray finishing a close second on each occasion.

Murray turned the tables in the ribbon, where she ran up a convincing win over Prince 23.876 to 22.176.

The main event at the men's nationals will take place in Canberra on Monday night with the conclusion of the all-around and individual apparatus events.

Medallists are decided on a combined two-night score, with Queensland's Naoya Tsukahara taking the halfway lead in the all-around ahead of Commonwealth Games gold medallist and reigning three-time national all-around champion Sam Offord.

Tsukahara and Offord tied for first on the high bar, with Offord letting himself down with a poor result on the pommel horse.

Prashanth Sellathurai dominated on both the pommel horse and rings to be the comfortable leader in both disciplines heading into the second round at the AIS Indoor Sport Arena.

AAP