Sport
3 August, 2026
Mixed bag for local gymnasts
IT was a mixed bag of emotions for the two Mareeba gymnasts who contested the recent national championships, with one finishing 8th in the country and the other having to withdraw due to injury.
Mareeba Gymnastics Club’s Finnlay Ford and Myles Dobbs Brown both travelled to Sydney recently, where they competed at the Australian Gymnastics Championships.
Ford had an outstanding competition and even exceeded the expectations of his coaches after he placed 8th overall in Australia in the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Level 7 division. His individual apparatus placings included 5th on vault, 7th on rings, and 11th on floor.
Unfortunately for Dobbs Brown, his time at the competition was cut short after he suffered an ankle injury during the first day. After being assessed, it was decided he was unable to continue and therefore did not complete the competition or record any final results.
“We couldn’t be prouder of both Finn and Myles,” head coach Kelly Tulloch said.
“For a regional club like ours to have two athletes representing Queensland at the Australian Championships is incredibly special.
“Finn’s result was outstanding. Finishing 8th in Australia is a phenomenal achievement and a testament to the hard work and dedication he’s put into his training over many years. He’s an incredibly hard-working young man who never stops striving to improve.
“Being a rural club, we simply don’t have access to the same resources and opportunities as many of the larger metropolitan clubs, which makes a top 10 finish in the country even more remarkable.
“It was heartbreaking to see Myles’ competition cut short by injury after everything he’d worked towards. Gymnasts spend years training for opportunities like this, and to have that opportunity taken away is incredibly tough.
“But simply qualifying for the Australian Championships and earning the chance to compete against the country’s best is an achievement in itself. He’s shown all season that he belongs there and we’re incredibly proud of everything he’s accomplished.
“We hope both Finn and Myles’ achievements show our younger gymnasts and community that just because you come from a small town, it doesn’t mean you have to shrink your dreams to fit it.”
