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- sponsored by:

XXVIIth Olympic Games Sydney, Rhythmische Sportgymnastik

- Rhythmic Gymnastics -

Danielle LeRay (AUS)

... coached by the youngest coach of the Olympic Games of Sydney 2000

The gymnast:

Born/ geb.:		06-NOV-1982
Club / Verein:		" Kirralaa" Sydney
Coach / Trainer:		Katie Mitchell
Hometown / Wohnort:		Sydney
Education: Ausbildung		Schuelerin / student
Hobbies:

2000:
Australian National Champion in Rope, Hoop, Ball and 2nd in Ribbon
1999:
Australian National Champion in AA, Rope and Ball.

Competed internationally in France, Bulgaria, Germany and Hungary

Dani Leray - The best Australian Gymnast!
Danielle Le Ray

Olympic Park, Pavillon 3:
Ihre erste olympische Uebung

Dani when participating at the Olympic Games will be very close to her major achievement. “My intention is to go to the Olympics and hopefully will place within the top 15.”

With this goal Danielle’s placing after half of the qualification competition has completed a difference of only 0.02 separated her to be on place 15. It is therefore quite possible that Dani might be able to qualify at a Grand Prix to eventually be competing in the finals.

Especially in the last 12 months Dani made an enormous leap forward because at the World Championship in Osaka-Japan in 1999 Dani placed 59 as one of the best Australians ever.

Dani was only 6 years old when she desperately wanted to participate in gymnastics. But not just school gymnastics, Dani wanted to be a good as Nadja Comaneci. Dani started at home to exercise the same way as Nadja…

From Rhythmic Gymnastics Dani knew very little as she had only seen it on television therefore Dani was well informed about Artistic Gymnastics and copied Nadja only.

One day Dani’s mother had enough and registered Dani in a Rhythmic Gymnastic Club called “Koorabelle” in Sydney and now looking back after many years of hard work Dani is the Australian National Champion for the 7th time and one of the most successful Rhythmic Gymnasts in the Australian history.

Die Trainerin:

Somehow in 1999 Dani’s elite development was lacking excitement and a desperate change was needed to achieve her ultimate goal.

A change took place. Having been coached by the ex Rumanian Delia Halmu, Dani decided in October 1999 to join one of the youngest Rhythmic Gymnastic coaches Miss Katie Mitchell. Katie established a new club in Sydney, which is a task on it own.
Not an easy start!

Not having the luxury of being a large club the venue was only a small gymnasium provided by a High School and the mats had to be rolled up and stored after every training session.

In this period Sydney based Youth Sports Foundation - an organization that is providing worldwide sponsorship - assisted Dani financially. Youth Sports Foundation is an international organization with the goal to help young upcoming athletes worldwide in their chosen sport.

With the assistance of Youth Sports Foundation it was possible to employ the Bulgarian Coach based in Canada, Ludmila Dimitrova who is also the coach of the best Rhythmic Gymnasts Miss Emilie Livingston. Lucy and Emilie resided in Sydney for approximately three months and choreographed Dani’s routines.

It was important for the preparation of Dani to have highly qualified coaches as Dani had qualified to represent Australia at the Olympic Games in Sydney 2000.

What has happened in these three to six months where Katie and Lucy coached Dani was a miracle. At the Test Event in Sydney, which was also the Olympic qualification competition Dani provided the spectators with astonishing routines and it was clear that the task performed by Katie Mitchell and Ludmila Dimitrova, was at a class on its own never seen before in Australia’s history in Rhythmic Gymnastics.

Big confidence.....

Vanessa (13 years) on toes
with coach Katie Mitchell

Vanessa Ade: Banner for Dani!
Katie has the gift with her own enthusiasm to motivate her gymnasts and to participate in the success of club members. There is also an enormous trust towards Katie by the parents of the gymnasts.

Our Dani finally made it:
Dani Leray made it to the Olympics and Katie herself is the youngest Rhythmic Gymnastics Coach to participate at these 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Quiet achiver, Katie !

Coach Katie Mitchell
- four years ago just missed out on the Olympic Games in Atlanta.....

...and Dani LeRay who is already the most successful Australian Rhythmic Gymnast ever participating in the history of the Olympic Games

Charming Girl Dani !

German version

.	Rhythmic Navigation Have also a look at Stars & Stories