This week gymnast of the week travels to a continent unvisited thus far and finds Allana Slater, one of Australia’s most successful gymnasts and this week’s gymnast of the week.

Allana began her gymnastics career at age three at Kalajos School of Gymnastics, but it was not long before a talent scout from the Western Australian Institute of Sports spotted her and the then five-year old was invited to join the elite development program, and just after her sixth birthday she began her elite training.

At just nine years old Allana made her debut into the Australia national scene and her international debut at only eleven years old. At her first international competition in 1998, a duel met against Japan, she came out as the all-around champion, defeating senior team members and the best in Japan. After placing third at the Australian Commonwealth Games team trials, Allana went on to compete at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, where Australia won their first ever team gold and Allana won a silver medal on floor and the all-around.

In 1999, the Australian women’s gymnastics team placed 5^th in the team competition at the World Championships, shocking the world with their finish ahead of U.S. women’s team and Chinese women’s team. Allana also placed 9^th in the all-around, the highest an Australian woman had or has ever places before. In 2000, Allana won her first National Championship title and then went to compete at the Olympic Games. After the 2000 Olympics, Allana was invited to compete in the last two events of the World Cup Circuit, where she made history by winning Australia’s first ever World Cup Grand Prix gold medal on uneven bars, while also winning the silver medal on floor.

The year 2002 started just as well as the others for Allana when she won her second World Cup Prix gold medal on floor. At the Pacific Alliance Championships that followed after Allana showed her many talents on floor where she again placed, winning the silver medal and helped the Australian team to a strong second place finish. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games Allana again helped her team win the gold medal.

In 2003, perhaps Allana’s best year, she again won the Australia national title and went to represent Australia and helped the Australian team placed third in the team final at the World Championships, the best finish that the team had ever seen and the first bronze medal at such a high caliber meet every won by an Australian gymnast. Allana went to compete in the 2004 Olympics where she qualified for the balance beam finals, but failed to medal.

In 2005 Allana retired from gymnastics and has continued her life working in television in Australia – providing commentary for some gymnastics events as well as some television presenting.

Allana Slater is considered one of Australia’s most successful female athletes and her series of medals and accomplish show her true dedication to the sport and her country.

While Allana is best known for her floor routines, her balance beam routine from the 2002 Commonwealth Games is breathtaking. Her mount is unique and she performs a shushunova full at 1:48!