Emily Whitehead

EMILY WHITEHEAD

Senior International Gymnast

Quick Facts:

Name: Emily Whitehead

Level: Senior International

Birthplace: Mornington

DOB: 11/12/2000

Nickname: Em

School: Torrens University

Motto: "Leave no stone unturned"

"Train your mind to see the good in every situation"

Most admired sportsperson? Michael Jordan

Favourite music? Pop

Favourite movie/TV shows? The Age of Adaline & The Blacklist

What is your pet hate? Disorganisation, mess and half done jobs

If you were famous who would you be and why? SIA, because I like to blend in with the crowd

Best piece of advice you've ever received? "Nothing worth having comes easy." "Live in the moment and soak it all in."

TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 25: Emily Whitehead of Team Australia competes in the floor exercise during Women's Qualification on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 25, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

 

Training Information: 

When and why did you start gymnastics? Five years old. My older sister did it and I wanted to be like her.

First gymnastics club? Grips Gymnastics

Who were your developmental coaches? Janie Ahlstrom, Grace Yang, Mr Yang

Who is your current coach? John Hart and Shaoyi Jiang

What is the most important thing your coach has taught you? Just keep chipping away. Don't focus on the things you can't control.

Favourite thing about Waverley? The support shown inside and outside of the gym. They go above and beyond to help us athletes achieve our dreams.

Biggest challenge you've overcome so far? Back injury in 2019 and re-finding the love for the sport during COVID

Best apparatus? Vault

Favourite skill? Pak on bars

Most difficult skill to learn? Flyaway dismount off bars

One skill you would most love to learn? Stalder Tkatchev on bars and The Cheng vault

 

Most Significant:

Best National Perfomance: 2021 Australian Championships

Best International Performance: Tokyo Olympics for AA score. Commonwealth Games for Individual apparatus

Proudest gymnastics achievement? Becoming an Olympian

 

National & International Competitions:

National Championships: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021

International Competitions:

2014: Jesolo Trophy and Pacific Rim

2015: Jesolo Trophy and Japan Junior

2016: Pacific Rim

2017: AT&T American Cup, Gymnix International and Cottbus World Cup

2018: Melbourne World Cup, Commonwealth Games and World Championships

2019: Flanders International

2021: Continental Championships and Tokyo Olympics

2022: DTB Pokal Cup

Check out some of Emily's routines from previous competitions!