Keara and Kayla Nel
Camera IconKeara and Kayla Nel Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Local sports stars: Aveley twins up for gymnastics gong

Lauren PedenThe Advocate

IDENTICAL twins Keara and Kayla Nel (18) may be rivals in the gymnastics arena but they’re also each other’s biggest fan.

The Aveley sisters were already doing artistic gymnastics when they were introduced to trampolining after a family friend invited them to watch their daughter compete.

“She offered for us to have a go on the trampoline at the end of the competition and the coach came straight up to mum asking if we would join the club,” Kayla said.

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They are both now trialling for the World Age Championships being held in Bulgaria in November.

In 2018, they also hope to qualify for the Australian Championships before the World Championships as senior athletes.

They said selection in the Australian Senior Women’s team for World Championships, World Cup or World Games was the ultimate goal.

“My goal was to represent Australia in my sport which I did last year at the Indo Pacific Championships but now I want to go to the World Championships,” Kayla said.

“In September we are travelling to Bendigo for the National Club Championships which is the final trial for world’s selection.

“I am training before and after school trying to get some new skills to increase my difficulty.”

Keara said she too would like to win a World Championship title and admits she’s feeling a bit nervous about trialling to qualify.

“After being dedicated to the sport for so long I want to achieve the highest possible representation I can and compete for my country,” she said.

“My proudest moment was winning National Champion for double mini this year.”

Kayla said her biggest success was winning Australian Champion on vault and being selected for Indo Pacific Championships for double mini trampoline in 2016.

They said they were each others most challenging opponents.

“It’s hard because people compare us all the time such as ‘if she can do it you must be able to’ but it’s also really fun because she is there with me and understands the pressure and effort it takes to do well,” Kayla said.

“We drive each other to improve and do better and also can commiserate when things don’t go well.”

Keara said they always cheer each other on.

“Its something you adjust to, last year Kayla was selected to go to Indo Pacific Championships and I really wanted to be chosen but I had to be happy for her,” she said.

“Over the years whose the winner swaps back and forward sometimes one of us does really well and then later the other one does.”Keara and Kayla have both been nominated for the Junior Sports Star Individual category in the Community Newspaper Group’s Local Sports Star Awards.

To nominate visit www.localsportstars.com.au.

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