Jessica White

Interview 1
September 1999

When did you begin gymnastics, at which club, and who was your first coach?
1990 in Prep. Brentwood Gymnastics Club in Glen Waverly in Melbourne, coached by Claudine Olver.

For how long have you been involved in the V.I.S. program?
For five years, this is my sixth.

Who are your coaches at the VIS? 
Tracey Penaluna, Shao Yi Jung and Mark Calton.

What is your favourite piece of apparatus, and why?
Floor, because of the power that I can get from it.

What is a skill that you can't perform yet, but would like to be able to?
Double layout full twist.

Although your career is really just getting started - what do you consider to be your greatest personal achievement so far?
Being [Australian] junior international champion this year.

Congratulations on your performance at this year's Australian National Championships. You must have been really excited about everything that you achieved. Can you tell us a little bit more about it, as most Australian fans would not have had the chance to see you compete there?
We competed over two days at the new Olympic Stadium, Homebush.

What are your goals, both for 1999 and the years to come - we imagine the 2004 Athens Olympic Games is not very far from your mind?
Athens 2004 is definitely a goal in my mind. But for this year, I'm aiming to make the teams Junior Pacific Alliance and Japan Junior (depending on National Clubs Comp.) For the years to come, I'd like to go to World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

Who is the gymnast that you most admire and look up to, and why?
Vanessa Atler because she is so nice and friendly. I met her when I went to America earlier this year at the Charter Oak/Gliders Invitational.

What are your interests outside the gym?
Spending time with my friends from Mentone Girls' Secondary College. Going to the football to see the Melbourne Demons win…

Imagine you could invite any three people to have dinner with you. Who would they be, and why?
1. Ben Affleck, coz he's hot
2. Adam Sandler, coz he's funny
3. ????

With the new Millenium only seven months away - have you thought about what your New Years resolution might be?
No I won't have one cause I never stick to them.

When and where is the next time that you will be competing for the Australian public to see your talents?
National Clubs Competition - Melbourne - at Springers Leisure Centre - Keysbourough.


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