Ashleigh Brennan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ashleigh Brennan |
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Brennan before the 2012 Summer Olympics
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Ashleigh Jade Brennan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country represented |  Australia |
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| Born | 18 January 1991 Melbourne, Victoria |
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| Height | 157 cm (5 ft 2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline | Women's artistic gymnastics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Ashleigh Jade Brennan (born 18 January 1991) is an Australian former gymnast. She was a key member of Australia's national artistic gymnastics team. Ashleigh competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2012 Summer Olympics. She helped her team finish sixth in 2008. She also won two team gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in 2006 and 2010. She earned a silver medal in 2006 and a bronze medal in 2010 at the Commonwealth Games. Ashleigh is also the sister of Berwick footballer, Tom Brennan.
About Ashleigh Brennan
Ashleigh Brennan was born on 18 January 1991 in Melbourne, Victoria. She grew up in Berwick, Victoria. Ashleigh was even nominated for a special award called the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) Spirit Award. This award recognizes athletes who show great spirit.
Ashleigh's Gymnastics Journey
Ashleigh started gymnastics when she was seven years old. She became an "all-around specialist." This means she was good at all the different gymnastics events. Before practice and competitions, she likes to drink coffee!
Ashleigh had some injuries earlier in her career. She missed competitions in 2004, 2005, and 2006. She made her senior national championship debut in 2007. At the 2007 national championships, she placed third on the floor exercise. She also finished fourth on the balance beam. In 2008, she earned second place on the floor. She also came in third on the balance beam, uneven bars, and in the all-around event.
Ashleigh did not compete in 2009. In 2011, she placed second on both the floor and balance beam. In 2012, she won first place in the all-around competition. She also finished third on the balance beam and floor.
Ashleigh has represented Australia in many big competitions. These include the 2006 Commonwealth Games and 2010 Commonwealth Games. She also competed in the World Championships in 2007, 2010, and 2011. And, of course, the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2012 Summer Olympics.
At the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games, she won a gold medal with her team. She also earned a silver medal on the floor in 2006. In 2010, she won a bronze medal on the floor. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, her team finished in sixth place.
Ashleigh also achieved great results in other competitions. At the 2011 Doha World Cup, she finished second on the balance beam and floor. At the 2012 Gymnix International, she was second on the floor. She also came in third in the all-around and on the balance beam. At the 2012 Doha World Cup, she again placed second on the balance beam.
In 2012, Ashleigh was part of the Australian senior squad. Her coach was Peggy Liddick. Ashleigh won the all-around event at the 2012 Australian Gymnastics Championships. She also earned bronze medals on the floor and balance beam. This competition was an important step for the Australian team to qualify for the Olympics.
Ashleigh at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Ashleigh was part of the team that helped Australia qualify for the 2012 Olympics. In June 2012, she was one of twelve gymnasts trying for a spot on the Olympic team. This training happened at the Australian Institute of Sport. Ashleigh, along with Lauren Mitchell and Emily Little, was confirmed to go to the Games.
She represented Australia in women's artistic gymnastics at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She was chosen to compete in the women's team event. To get ready for the Olympics, she practiced dealing with bright camera flashes and loud noises. This helped her stay focused during competitions.
On 29 July, Ashleigh qualified for the individual all-around final. She placed 28th with a score of 54.232. Her performance also helped the Australian team finish tenth in the qualification round. In the all-around final on 2 August, she finished 20th with a score of 55.332.
Ashleigh Brennan retired from gymnastics in November 2012. She decided to study sports science and start a new career.
