DOB 6/05/1977
Nickname Tilly
Hometown Melbourne
Current Residence Queensland
Occupation Athlete and mother
Hero Michael Murphy
Personal Ambition To either continue or have more kids
Favourite Quote The harder you train, the luckier you get
Sporting Details
Positions/Disciplines: 1m, 10m, 10m Synchronised and 3m Synchronised
Training Venue: Chandler Aquatic Centre, Brisbane
Name Pronunciation Dar-sha
DOB 2/05/1990
Birthplace Russia
Current Residence Perth, WA
Occupation Student
General Information
Aspirations: To win a medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, shopping, friends, dancing
Family Facts: Mother and Father are both Gymnastics Coaches, younger sister Natasha
the conquest of balance
The beam has a certain magic about it. Many people wonder how the gymnasts manage to perform on an apparatus where balance, acrobatic sequences with or without light elements, gymnastic jumps and turns all play a role. It is an exercise not only of flexibility, but also of concentration, rhythm and expression.
lightness of being
They fly, do pirouettes, touch the floor and then leap high again into the air. This exercise is the public's favourite and they are ready to clap as soon as the music begins. Many gymnasts will tell you that they have had their greatest ovations when performing floor exercises to music. The floor is the area where a gymnast can fully express all her grace,her personality, and her technique, combining acrobatics, gymnastics and dance.
poetry in motion
The uneven bars are by far the most spectacular apparatus of the competition. Imagine the strength, the precision, the rhythm, the concentration and the courage that these girls need to perform their exercises with such simplicity. The gymnast moves from one bar to the other, alternating grip changes, releases and regrasps, saltos and changes of direction with circular swings.
like lightning
Vaulting shows off the gymnast's athletic qualities, as the movement is performed after a run up of about 20 metres. The gymnast must put both hands on the horse. As far as marking is concerned, the judges will evaluate the complexity of the movement, the position of the body, and the landing, which must be perfect.
When each type of dive is performed, the diver utilises one or more of the four different types of body positions.
- Tuck: The body is bent at the waist and knees, the thighs are drawn to the chest while the heels are kept close to the buttocks.
- Pike: The legs are straight with the body bent at the waist. The arm position is dictated by the particular dive being performed or by the choice of the diver.
- Straight: This position requires that there be no bend at the waist or knees. However, there may be an arch in the back depending on the dive. As in the pike position the arm placement is either the diver’s choice or defined by the dive performed.
- Free: This is not an actual body position but a diver's option to use any of the other three positions or combination thereof when performing a dive which includes somersaults and twists. However, in dives of this kind the tuck position is rarely used, while a combination of the other two positions is the most common occurrence.
There are six different groups of platform and springboard dives. The first four types involve rotating in different directions relative to the board and the starting position. The fifth group includes any dive with a twist. The final group, used in platform diving, begins with an armstand.
- Forward Group: The diver faces the front of the board and rotates towards the water. Dives in this group vary from the simple front dive to the difficult forward four and one-half somersaults.
- Backward Group: All the dives in the backward group begin with the diver on the end of the board with the back to the water. The direction of rotation is away from the board.
- Reverse Group: These dives begin with the diver facing the front of the board (using a forward approach) and rotating towards the board.
- Inward Group: The diver stands on the end of the board with back to the water and rotates toward the board or opposite of the backward group’s movement.
- Twisting Group: Any dive with a twist is included in this group. There are four types of twisting dives: forward, backward, reverse and inward. Because of the many possible combinations, this group includes more dives than any other.
- Armstand Group: In platform diving there is a sixth, unique group of dives called 'armstands'. Here the diver assumes a handstand position on the edge of the platform before executing the dive.
In classifying a dive, certain parts of each dive must be analysed and evaluated, and an overall award obtained. The parts of the dive are:
- Approach: Should be smooth but forceful, showing good form.
- Take-off: Must show control and balance, plus the proper angle of landing and leaving for the particular dive being attempted.
- Elevation: The amount of spring or lift a diver receives from the take-off greatly affects the appearance of the dive. Since more height means more time, a higher dive generally affords greater accuracy and smoothness of movement.
- Execution: This is most important, for this is the dive. A judge watches for proper mechanical performance, technique, form and grace.
- Entry: The entry into the water is very significant because it is the last thing the judge sees and the part probably remembered best. The two criteria to be evaluated here are the angle of entry which should be vertical and the amount of splash, which should be as little as possible.
