Wellard, from Golden Square, and McAliece, of Eaglehawk, will travel to St Petersburg to compete in the championships, which are set to attract 274 of the world’s best gymnasts from 33 countries.

The duo will compete in tumbling, which is an acrobatic discipline competed on the floor without any apparatus, and is classed under the gymnastics umbrella.

Head coach at the Bendigo Gymnastics Centre John Palmer said the girls would be competing against the world’s most successful tumbling countries including Russia, China and the US.

“Russia and China are obvious and the US has thousands of girls who do cheerleading, which is essentially tumbling,” Palmer said.

Despite competing against the very best in the sport, Palmer said Haylee and Jaclyn had done the work and had what it took to finish in the top 15 in St Petersburg.

“Haylee is the only girl in Australia who can do a triple twisting somersault,” he said

“Haylee and Jacyln have done it the hard way, but they have gotten there.”

The Bendigo Gymnastics Centre has had much success in the past with its tumbling gymnasts, with Olympic gold medallist in diving Chantelle Newberry also coming through the tumbling ranks under Palmer’s guidance.

“Tumbling translates into diving,” he said.

“These girls are also on track to be two of the best divers in Australia.”

The world championships will be held at the Sport-Concert Complex in St Petersburg from today until Sunday.