Australian Women Adjusted and Ready to Go

Australian Women Adjusted and Ready to Go

By Elizabeth Grimsley

You may think spending seven hours on a plane from New York City to London, England is a long time, but it’s nothing compared to the flight the Australian women’s Olympic team had to endure.

“I think [the flight was] about 30 hours or so,” Emily Little told Inside after podium training. “It was really long. But we got here about a week ago now, so we’re starting to feel pretty normal, pretty good. At first, it was quite strange– a bit harder training. We’re getting back to normal now, doing pretty well. We’re pretty much adjusted. Over the last few days it’s been pretty normal– like we’re not so tired, feeling a bit fresher.”

Little had an easier time getting used to her surroundings since she’s been to London and the competition arena before. “Today was our first time [in the arena for the Olympics],” Little explained. “But I was here in January at the test event, so I’ve been on this podium before. It’s always really good to get familiar with the apparatus and the surroundings and feel the arena. It’s always really good to get out there and get your feet wet.”

Little may be finally getting used to the nine-hour time change, but veteran and World Champion Lauren Mitchell still has some adjusting to do. “I’m getting there,” Mitchell said. “I’m still crashing pretty early at night and then waking up pretty early, but we’re definitely getting the time difference and getting enough sleep. It should be good.”

Traveling such a long difference can also be very expensive, but at least for Little and Mitchell, they’ll have the support of their families while in London. “My mom and my dad are coming over to watch me, so they’ll be in the crowd,” Little said. “They’ve been supporting me for so long, and it’s nice to know they’ll get to watch me. But I won’t be on the beam and thinking about my mom watching me though!”

“I think [my family] left Australia yesterday, so they should be getting in today!” Mitchell realized. “My mom and my brothers and my sister [are coming]. I think some of my mom’s cousins, as well… It makes a difference. You can’t exactly see or hear them in the crowd but just knowing that they’re there and knowing that that support’s behind you makes a difference.”

Although Mitchell’s dad couldn’t make the trip, she knows support from home is just as meaningful. “I know dad’s going to be at home watching the telly, and my friends are going to be at home watching on the telly,” she said. “I know that their support’s all back in Australia, so when I get home, their support’s going to be there no matter what.”

But while she’s away from home, Mitchell will always have her teammates by her side. “I can’t do what I do without [my teammates] behind me,” she said. “Without them supporting me… I’m eternally grateful for them.”

For the Australians, competing in these Games is much more than just an exciting experience– it’s a chance to represent their country and “show them what you’re made of.”

“People in Australia– they love watching gymnastics, and they only really get to see it every four years when the Olympics comes around,” Mitchell explained. “But all the little comps or the big comps in between for us, [they] don’t really get to see, so it’s kind of nice sometimes– like at events like these.” 

You can be sure that Mitchell and the rest of the Australian team will take that to heart as they compete in the qualification round on Sunday starting at 6:15am ET.

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