Posted by Richard
on 6/5/2012, 11:45 am, in reply to "Re: Australian WAG Olympic Squad ... for training camp ..."
130.76.32.217
I thought I would re-post this message posted on Meridith's Australian Gymnastics Blog comment section ... (If the person posting was other than "anonymous" I might not have copied and pasted here) ...
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Anonymous said...
I meant to post this earlier, but I didn't get around to it, however it seems appropriate now.
Can I just say what a wonderful role model Olivia Vivian is for our younger gymnasts! Following competition (ap finals I think?) she and her WA team mates were having dinner in the tent (as were the rest of the Aussie Senior girls). Rather than getting her food and going and sitting out of the way like the rest of the girls, Olivia stayed to help the younger WA IDP girls get their food (the food counter was very high, and a lot of the younger athletes had issues reaching particularly the hot food). The food tent was pretty full, particularly with younger gymnasts who had been watching the Senior comp and most of them soon figured out that the senior girls were present, despite I'm sure being tired and hungry Olivia posed for photos, signed autographs and then lead the younger WA girls in a team chant. She was so approachable and so encouraging with the younger girls throughout her meal, in a way that the other girls were not (most of the others did their best to avoid being approached, which yes I know they had every right to do). By the smiles on the younger girls faces Olivia made a lot of their nights. It's one thing to be great with younger athletes at public events (as most of our seniors are) but it means so much more to see someone do it behind the scenes in their own personal time.
As has been said before, it is also great to see Olivia show our younger girls (and their families) that there is more to achieve in gymnastics than the Olympic Games and furthermore that an elite gymnastics career does not have to finish at 18!
Having seen how all the senior girls conducted themselves throughout the comp I can honestly say that Olivia stood out as an amazing ambassador and role model for gymnastics in Australia. She would be an asset to our Olympic team if she is selected!
June 5, 2012 9:22 PM
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Like any web comment section, lots of things I'd rather not read, but occasionally something worthwile ... 
London Calling WAG Olympic Squad
Go Beavs!!,
Richard
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