OFFICIAL TRUDY McINTOSH WEBPAGE

MONTHLY INTERVIEW

The first interview is with Lee Zeinstra who was one of Trudy's very first coaches at Geelong Gymnastics Centre.

If you have any further questions for Lee regarding Trudy's early years at gym please EMAIL them with "Interview Lee" in the subject line.

Lee with L6 team. Trudy (bottom left)

1. How old was Trudy when you first coached her?

ABOUT 5 YEARS OLD.

2.In your opinion were there early signs of potential?

MOST CERTAINLY.

3.What was Trudy's best apparatus at 7 years old competing in Level 6?

BEST APPARATUS AT LEVEL 6 WAS PROBABLY FLOOR WITH BEAM A CLOSE SECOND.

4. What was the piece of music you chose for Trudy's first floor routine and why?

"THE MUPPETS" IT WAS THE CUTEST PIECE WE HAD AT THE TIME, AND THE SIMPLEST BECAUSE SHE WAS THE YOUNGEST PERSON I HAD MADE A ROUTINE FOR.

5.Did she have a higher skill level than the other girls her age?

YES I REMEMBER HER BEING SPOTTED FOR A ROUNDOFF FLIP SALTO ON FLOOR BY GARTH NORMAN AT L5 OR 6, WHICH IN THOSE DAYS WAS A HUGE SKILL TO BE DOING AT THAT LEVEL. TRUDY WAS SO SMALL GARTH PRACTICALLY HAD TO RUN ALONG ON HIS KNEES TO REACH HER. IT REMAINS A CLEAR PICTURE IN MY HEAD AND A GREAT MEMORY. TRUDY ALWAYS LOOKED LIKE A LITTLE DOLL DOING THESE AMAZING SKILLS FOR HER AGE.

6.Was she easy to choreograph for?

YES, AS THE ROUTINE WAS QUITE SIMPLE AS SHE WAS SO YOUNG.

7.Do you continue to follow Trudy's career?

YES.

8.Do any of the girls Trudy trained with at Geelong gymnastics Centre still do gym?

NO, BECAUSE TRUDY WAS ALWAYS THE YOUNGEST IN HER GROUP. THE OTHER GIRLS WOULD BE 17 OR OLDER NOW I THINK, AND NOT DOING GYM ANY MORE.

9.Are you still involved with gymnastics yourself?

YES, I AM STILL THE CHOREOGRAPHER AT GEELONG GYMNASTICS CENTRE WHERE TRUDY WENT. ALSO COACHING BEAM AND FLOOR DANCE SKILLS. I HAVE BEEN WITH CLUB MYSELF FOR 11 YEARS AND AS A COACH/CHOREOGRAPHER FOR A FURTHER 13 YEARS.

10.Are there any more talented young hopefuls capable of following in Trudy's footsteps at GGC?

YES I BELIEVE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GIRLS WHO COULD BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS TRUDY HAS ALREADY BEEN. AS WE KNOW IN THIS SPORT IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST TALENT TO GO AS FAR AS TRUDY HAS. IT IS SUPPORT FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND THE RIGHT MENTAL ATTITUDE WHICH ALSO NEEDS HELP FROM THE RIGHT PEOPLE AROUND HER LIKE COACHES ETC. THE VICTORIAN INSTITUTE OBVIOUSLY HAS A GRASP ON THESE THINGS AND DOES A GOOD JOB.

11.Is Trudy still actively involved in the club and if so in what way?

YES, TRUDY HAS CONTINUALLY BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE CLUB IN VARIOUS WAYS. SHE PRESENTS MEDALS AT OUR ANNUAL "CLUBNASTICS" COMPETITION, AND HAS PERFORMED DISPLAY ROUTINES BEEN INTERVIEWED AND SIGNED AUTOGRAPHS ETC. HER PARENTS KEEP IN CONTACT WITH TRACEY, ONE OF THE COACHES AT OUR CLUB, ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEY LET US KNOW HOW TRUDY IS DOING, WHAT'S COMING UP FOR HER ETC. WE HAVE A WALL DEDICATED TO TRUDY WHICH IS FILLED WITH PICTURES, ARTICLES, ACHIEVEMENTS GALORE, AND EVERY COMPETITION SHE GOES IN WE PUT THE RESULTS ON OUR NOTICE BOARD AT THE CLUB. SHE IS AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL, AND IS LOOKED APON AS A HERO IN MANY OF THE YOUNG GYMNASTS EYES.

OFFICIAL TRUDY McINTOSH WEBPAGE