12 Kiwi gymnasts make Commonwealth Games

Games veterans Matthew Palmer, who competed at Delhi four years ago, and Misha Koudinov (pictured), who attended the last two Games, lead a strong men's quintet. Photo / Chris Skelton.

New Zealand will send a team of 12 gymnasts to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

They include men's and women's artistic team and two rhythmic gymnasts, Auckland's Kelly McDonald and Amelia Coleman of Christchurch.

The women's artistic group are all Christchurch based, while the men's squad are all from the Auckland region.

The youngest member of the squad is Christchurch's Courtney McGregor, who is 15. She was the first female gymnast to make a world cup final, in Doha, Qatar in March, and win a medal at the Pacfic Rim Championships in Vancouver in April.

Games veterans Matthew Palmer, who competed at Delhi four years ago, and Misha Koudinov, who attend the last two Games, lead a strong men's quintet. They collected nine medals at the Australian nationals in Melbourne last month.

New Zealand have won 10 gymnastic medals at the Commonwealth Games, the most recent by men's team coach David Phillips, who won bronze at Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

The squad have a camp in London before heading to Glasgow for the opening on July 23.
New Zealand gymnastics team for the Commonwealth Games:

Artistic women: Courtney McGregor (Christchurch), Charlotte Sullivan (Christchurch), Mackenzie Slee (Christchurch), Brittany Robertson (Christchurch), Anna Tempero (Christchurch)

Artistic men: Matthew Palmer (Auckland), Misha Koudinov (North Harbour), David Bishop (Auckland), Kristofer Done (North Harbour), Reid McGowan (Auckland).
Rhythmic: Kelly McDonald (Auckland), Amelia Coleman (Christchurch).