The long-time competitor won the women’s 17-years-plus tumbling event, successfully defending the title she won in Japan two years ago. 

“I probably did a bit better than I thought I would,” Wellard said. 

“I did all the passes I set out to do and did them well, so it was a pretty good outcome.”

Wellard, a first-year university nursing student and six-time national tumbling champion, also finished fourth in the Indo-Pacific double mini trampoline event.

She was selected to represent Australia at the competition – which featured competitors from nations including Canada, New Zealand, Japan and Thailand – on the basis of her performance at other competitions throughout the year.

In August, she was one of three Bendigo gymnasts who won at the Victorian trampoline and tumbling championships. 

Latisha Painter and Billie-Jo Sellick also claimed state titles in their respective age groups. 

The girls train at Palmer’s Gym in Mundy Street, practising tumbling passes that include round-offs, backflips and various aerial moves along a 25-metre sprung track. 

Wellard said her most difficult pass involved a series of whips and flips, with a twisting back somersault known as a “full in, pike out”. 

The Palmer’s Gym aerobics team won at the Aerobics Victorian State Championships. 

The gym’s aerobic coach, Sally Cartledge, said students Clare Bracey and Emily Jones became state champions then went on to become national title-holders. 

Cartledge said both girls were calm under pressure. 

“We have all been training really hard,” she said. 

“All of the team put in a lot of hard work and dedication and it all paid off against teams from across the country.

“I am pretty proud and excited, about their success.”