WARRNAMBOOL academy EKB Fitness and Aerobics has had a record number of athletes qualify for world championships.
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Eighteen athletes booked their tickets to the Prague titles in October by medalling in their international stream events at nationals championships in Melbourne.
The qualifiers included teenager Jordan Rooke, whose gold medal in the junior male fitness section was his first nationals triumph as an individual.
Senior female fitness trio Audacity — sisters Emma and Sophie Bellman and Aylish Auchettl — also won gold and two teams finished in the placings.
Fierce won silver in the senior fitness teams section while Fusion earned bronze in the junior fitness teams section.
Coach Emma Bellman said the academy had previously had eight members at most compete at worlds in the one year.
“We’ve only ever had one EKB team or pair represent Australia (for the same titles). We’ve got four that have qualified,” she said.
“The two teams we’re still working out who can go and who wants to go. But they’ve qualified, so we’ve got 18 from Warrnambool who have qualified.”
Bellman said she was ecstatic for Jordan, who will compete at worlds for a second time having earned silver in the mixed pairs in 2013.
She said Jordan, struck by nerves, did an “OK” routine in the semi-finals but had to improve in the finals to claim gold. He achieved a clean sweep, earning the highest ranking from the seven judges for his technical, artistic and aerobic skills.
Bellman was also excited for the two teams bound for Prague.
The 18 athletes were among 41 who represented EKB Fitness and Aerobics at nationals.
The others were in national stream fitness and hip hop events and also reaped exceptional results for the academy.
A cadet fitness team called Intensity claimed gold while a mini fitness trio called Emma’s Angels won silver. Teagan Drake and Tali Morrissy were the other fitness medallists, combining to win bronze in the senior female pairs.
Hip hop teams Krazy Crew (cadets, bronze), Savage (juniors, silver) and Royalty (seniors, gold) also celebrated success.