Sydney Gymnastics and Aquatics Centre - VIEW Magazine

FIT NE SS HEALTH & FITNESS IN ONE DESTINATION

You won’t find more health and fitness services and facilities under one roof anywhere else in the country.

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ISSUE 01 LAUNCH EDITION

WEST HQ VIEW

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A PURPOSE-BUILT GYMNASIUM AND AQUATIC CENTRE IN OUR OWN BACKYARD THE SYDNEY GYMNASTIC & AQUATIC CENTRE (SGAC) AT WEST HQ IS MORE THAN JUST A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY: IT’S A WORLD-CLASS EXPERIENCE. There is something for everyone. The beautiful space has been open to the Western Sydney public since August 2013, and features two 25 metre 5-lane swimming pools, a stunning Gymnastics Stadium built to Olympic International standard, a café, viewing area, and generous seating arrangements. It is also next door neighbours with Sydney West Sports Medicine, as well as a host of dining and entertainment venues in the hub of West HQ. The SGAC Aquatics Hall caters for a 25-metre Program Pool, specially designed to support general lap swimming, school sports and activities, and Aqua Aerobics, as well as Competitive swimming squads where swimmers can train at both state and nationalqualifying levels. For those among us who are new to swimming, the Learn to Swim Pool is purpose-built with in-water seating and heated to a Hydro standard of 32 degrees. Everyone from little ones just starting out, to keen adults

learning the joy of swimming for the first time, will feel comfortable and safe to splash around and make their first strokes.

Over 2,700 participants join in the Learn to Swim programs every week – and that’s only during the winter! Running all year round, on some weeks, SGAC welcomes 3,000 people through its doors and into its pools. It runs programs continuously across the year, with assessments every eight weeks, and progression reports for all swimmers.

Everyone will find a home at SGAC, with its state-of-the-art, purpose-built Gymnastics Stadium boasting 1,200 seats onsite, capable of accommodating all types of events. The three halls of operation cater to a range of Women’s

Artistic, Men’s Artistic, Acrobatics, and Trampoline Gymsports in both National and International levels; not to mention school sports events, school programs, gymnastics State events, special needs programs and even end of year functions and showcases competitions. Through the Gymnastics Halls, it runs extensive programs from Beginners, to Kindy Gym, right up to Adult Gymnastics.

Seeking a large, multi-disciplinary facility that provides services to enhance our own or our family’s health and wellbeing, or even rehabilitation, SGAC is the destination at West HQ. We have a purpose-built Gymnastic and Aquatic Centre, in the middle of our own backyard.

WEST HQ VIEW

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MEET WEST HQ’S OWN WORLD CUP CHAMPION: EMMA NEDOV TELL US WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO FOLLOW A SPORTING CAREER IN GYMNASTICS AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE

I started gymnastics when I was 6, purely because my mum thought I’d enjoy it. I apparently cried in the car on the way to my first trial because I didn’t want to go, but as soon as I entered the gymnasium my mouth dropped and I was in awe. It’s been my life ever since! It was a hobby and a sport I was doing for fun in the beginning. I didn’t realise where I could go with the sport until I was about 9 or 10 when the Australian National coach started recognising me.

WHAT DOES SGAC MEAN TO YOU?

I started training at SGAC in 2014, when it had just opened and I attended my first World Championships that year. SGAC has been so supportive to me throughout the past few years I have trained there. I’ve been through ups and downs struggling with injury and questions of retirement and no matter where I end up I know I have the support of SGAC behind me every step of the way and for which I am very grateful.

YOU HAVE A REMARKABLE COLOURFUL CAREER SO FAR WITH NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN. WHAT DRIVES YOU?

Thank you! I have a larger goal in mind which ultimately drives me. However, I find that setting smaller goals in order to achieve the bigger ones is the key to keeping things going at a steady pace. I’ve been competing pretty consistently this year and there’s more competitions to come so I focus on each step at a time. I’m also extremely fortunate to have the best support system around me, from my family and friends to coaches and mentors who also contribute to keeping me motivated.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE GYMNASTICS SKILL AND WHY?

My favourite gymnastics skill is a ‘front aerial’ on beam. I just find them really easy to do and have been doing them for roughly 10 years now!

CAN YOU NAME SOMEONE IN THE SPORTS WORLD AND SOMEONE IN THE REAL WORLD WHO INSPIRES YOU AND WHY?

There are so many people both in and out of the sports world who inspire me.

To pick one, for me in gymnastics I’ve always looked up to a Romanian gymnast Catalina Ponor, who was an Olympic champion on beam.

I admired her style and the way she trained and competed.

Outside gymnastics I’d have to say my mum.

Now that I’m older I can look back and realise how much she did for me and I can honestly say I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I have without her or my dad. She is a real life superwoman.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR EMMA?

At this stage, I’m obviously hoping to make the Tokyo Olympics next year which could bring a number of exciting things for the future.

After that, I’ll be moving on to new things! I’ve got my side business ‘Artium Sport’ that I’d like to build on, and I’ll possibly start studying again. It’s been a long 17 years in gymnastics so this will be my final cycle.