Nothing to prove for gymnast Godwin in Glasgow comeback
Joanna Guelas |
Recovering from a “traumatic” injury, Australia’s superstar gymnast Georgia Godwin had asked herself if the cost of winning was worth it.
But the 28-year-old admits she can’t yet fight off the competitor in herself as she eyes a fairytale comeback at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Godwin had underlined her status at the 2022 Birmingham Games as Australia’s leading artistic gymnast, winning individual all-around and vault gold.
Already boasting three 2018 Gold Coast Games medals, the Queensland product also won uneven bars, balance beam and team all-around silver to become the nation’s equal-most decorated women’s artistic gymnast, alongside Allana Slater.
Godwin looked a genuine chance to vie for Australia’s first Olympic medal at the 2024 Paris Games, but her dream was cut short in May by an Achilles injury.
The 28-year-old described her journey as “a roller-coaster ride that I had no control of”, and she was sidelined from international competition for 17 months.
Godwin is now out to seal her spot in Glasgow at this weekend’s Commonwealth Games trial event at the AIS in Canberra.
The trials won’t be the sole marker for selection, with Godwin also competing at next week’s Oceania Championships in Brisbane.
While she hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, Godwin said her return hasn’t been seamless.
“After a pretty traumatic injury like an Achilles rupture, you can’t just be like, ‘All right, end of the year, done, start fresh’. It always carries over,” Godwin told AAP.
“You’re like, ‘oh my God, oh my God, oh my God’, and your brain goes into this over-catastrophising mode.
“Physically, it’s been challenging coming back. Mentally, it’s been a whole other game.”
Individual glory won’t be the only item on the Glasgow agenda for Australia’s women, after being pipped by England for gold in the teams event.
Birmingham beam gold medallist Kate McDonald will also compete in Canberra, alongside reigning national all-around champion Breanna Scott and two-time Olympian Emily Whitehead.
Rising star Ruby Pass, who netted a 16-year Olympic best result for Australia by finishing 13th in the Paris all-around, won’t be in action after picking up an ankle issue.
Managing the weight of expectation, Godwin said she had nothing to prove.
“I reckon if you had asked me two years ago, just before my Achilles, I would have been like, ‘Yeah, I need to win’,” Godwin said.
“There’s this battle between me that’s like ‘I want to win at any cost’.
“And then there’s the other side of me that’s like, ‘Yeah, but last time, what did that cost you?'”
It’s not that the drive isn’t there for an older and wiser Godwin, who hasn’t ruled herself out of competing at the 2028 LA Olympics.
“I am currently tied as the women’s artistic athlete with the most Commonwealth Games medals with Allana Slater – I’d like to be the most,” Godwin said.
“I’d love to be at LA. I have unfinished business.
“But at the same time, I’m 28 now. I’m studying full-time. I’ve got a dog.
“I do the sport for myself, and it literally can be taken away from you in a split second.”
In-form young gun and Paris Olympian Jesse Moore leads the men’s competition in Canberra, alongside veteran Clay Mason Stephens, Heath Thorpe and teenager Tru Hagens.
AAP