Gymnastics: Teen's trip nothing short of paradise

Laura Johnson.

Laura Johnson returned with seven age-group medals from GymFest Hawaii but she was always going to be a winner the second she boarded that flight to Honululu.

The 13-year-old from Havelock North High School last month scooped gold in the vault and uneven bars as well as third overall individual when New Zealand finished first at the Gymnastics in Paradise.

The year 9 pupil then clinched gold in vault as well as silvers on the balance beam and uneven bars as well as gold as overall individual winner (no team competition).

"It was a really nice experience. I had never travelled overseas before," says Johnson who felt the traditional welcome of the tropical sweat blanket the minute the Kiwi team emerged from the aircraft for the January 5 to 20 festival.

"It was really hot but the views were just amazing," she says, taking in her stride training routines in the humidity before competing against more than 40 peers at level seven.

"It was kind of weird and interesting to see a different culture."

But the jarring moment came at the height of competition with the judges' perception, albeit somewhat easier.

"It's quite different from competitions at home where judges look at different things."

Despite all that, Johnson was simply delighted with her performance before returning to Napier on January 22.

"All the hard work I had done has paid off with all that training," she says, adding her coach, Jane Sheldrake, of Napier, was proud of her achievements.

The teenager thanked her coaches, family and sponsors for their support and help.

Her next mission is the national championships at Invercargill in October.