NARINGAL aerobics export Brenton Andreoli has claimed two bronze medals at the world championships.
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Andreoli won medals in the men’s solo and open trios sections at the Federation of International Sports and Fitness (FISAF) titles in Dordrecht, the Netherlands.
Warrnambool-based EKB Fitness and Aerobics’ Accelerate team placed seventh in the final of its junior fitness category.
EKB coach Emma Bellman, former Warrnambool athlete Kayla Bamford and Shepparton’s Emma O’Keeffe earned sixth in the open trios category.
The Warrnambool and district athletes were yesterday coming down from a bumper week at the world championships in Europe.
Bellman yesterday spoke to The Standard from a Dordrecht hotel at 4.10am local time still celebrating the results.
She said the eight-member Accelerate team, which had a racing-themed routine, produced its best performance of the week in the finals.
The team was eighth after the preliminary round and moved up to seventh after the semi-final to qualify for the final.
“In the prelims the nerves really showed, you could see it, whereas in the finals — with fitness it’s important to show off as soon as you walk on the stage, show you’re number one,” she said.
“After that first round, they didn’t have the nerves. Whatever they did had to be enough to make it through to finals.
“And then in finals it had to be good enough to hold their position.
“They really got into it. They just enjoyed what they were doing.”
Bellman said the experience of training and competing overseas had made the teenage girls better athletes.
“They’ve improved out of sight. Practising at Action Fitness (in Warrnambool) and using the mirrors, they wouldn’t be where they are now without that,” she said.
“That was a big part, having the right kind of training.
“The Czech Republic was first, second and third, but other teams were acknowledging how much Australia was improving in that section.
“Belgium and Australia are both coming really close.”
Andreoli was unavailable for comment yesterday but was also celebrating his dual success.
He was fifth in his solo category and third in the trios after the preliminary round, but improved as the titles went on.
He rose to third in both classes after the semi-finals and held his spots in the finals.
Andreoli has now medalled at every world titles since 2008.
Bellman and Bamford also made the final of their trios section, finishing a credible sixth.
“We were really happy with our finals. We did our best and that’s all we can do,” Bellman said.
“It was our first year being a trio. We can’t ask for anything more.”
afawkes@standard.fairfax.com.au
