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Kiwis bring back Silver Medal in Vegas

Friday 7 August 2009, 12:50PM

By New Zealand Aerobics

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The New Zealand Aerobics team after a successful tour in Las Vegas
The New Zealand Aerobics team after a successful tour in Las Vegas Credit: New Zealand Aerobics

The New Zealand Aerobics team have just returned home after a successful tour in Las Vegas. The team of talented, young Kiwis took on the World at the 20th International Aerobic Championships, following in the footsteps of their World Champion coach, Kelly Aitken who makes up one third of “JDK” a.k.a the Aitken Triplets. (Kelly) Aitken and her sisters (Joanna and Danica) competed at this Youth World Championship event for the first time at the same age in Orlando where they also brought home a Silver Medal in the same division.

The team got off to an exciting start before they left for Vegas. The girls met up with some of their sporting heroes from the All Blacks at the airport very early on the 19th July. The All Blacks had an early morning departure for Australia following their Bledisloe Cup win as did the Wallabies.

Fourteen year old Auckland teenager, Chelsea Stitt is ecstatic after winning a Silver medal for New Zealand in the Age Group 2 Individual Women’s final in Vegas. This is her first medal on the World stage and likely to be one of many to come.

Aitken took Stitt to the Suzuki World Cup in Tokyo earlier on as the New Zealand Head of Delegation. Chelsea made it into the top eight but did not place – this in itself was an amazing achievement given it was her first time at the event. This was not enough for Stitt. In the lead up to Vegas, Stitt was determined to make it onto the podium. After weeks of hard training, Stitt finally achieved her dream of winning a medal on the world stage. She was only 0.15 points behind first place. It is highly debatable as to which athlete should have taken out the Gold medal but Stitt, Aitken and the New Zealand judge, Nicky Donaldson were still over the moon with the result.

Aitken is extremely proud of her silver medalist athlete. “Chelsea and I have worked very hard to get here. I knew from the moment I started working with her that she would one day be standing on the medal podium, although I did not expect it so soon. To win a medal at a world competition such as this after being in the sport for such a short time is unbelievable.”

One of Aitken’s other athletes, Abigail Masters also looked very strong in the Age Group 2 Individual Women’s event but was unfortunately forced out of 5thplace after a couple of minor errors. At this level of competition, even the smallest error can result in a significant drop in ranking.

Stitt and Masters had success in the trio division alongside their central Auckland team mate, Claire Darwin. The 14 year old teenagers were very excited to make it into the trio championship finals, as this is their first year in the Age Group 2 division. This is also the first big world competition for Masters and Darwin. This division is a big step up for the girls whereby they must compete against athletes between 14 and 18 years of age. The girls placed forth in their trio, narrowly missing out on the bronze medal after a minor fall.

“This is only the beginning for the girls. I look forward to watching them achieve great things for New Zealand in the future.” Said Aitken.

Stitt, Masters and Darwin have been training with Aitken for five days a week in preparation for this event at her aerobics academy, which forms a part of Achieve Academy of Sport and Fitness. Aitken founded Achieve Academy of Sport and Fitness, which works with clients ranging from business executives through to pregnant women through to international elite athletes and dancers, eight years ago.

Aitken has found it interesting transitioning from representing New Zealand on the world stage as a competitor alongside her triplet sisters, to representing New Zealand as the Team Coach and Head of Delegation.

“Going on tour in the management team can certainly be a lot more challenging and I very much miss competing with my sisters. However, it can also be quite rewarding.” Said Aitken. “It’s a wonderful thing to be able to do - helping people realise their true potential and realise their dreams. There have been so many amazing people in my life who’ve helped me achieve throughout my life, such as my family and friends. It’s great to be able to give something back to community and help inspire others to be the best they can be.”

Aitken and her sisters(Joanna an Danica) have traveled the world representing their country for over 10 years in sport aerobics, gymnastics and dance, they hold a World title, World silver and bronze medals, over 12 National Team titles, have 10 years professional dance experience and double University degrees.

The 2009 International Aerobic Championships were followed by the 2009 World Hip Hop Championships Both events are organised by the same American organisation. Some of New Zealand’s nine talented hip hop crews had just started arriving at the Loews Lake Las Vegas Hotel as the New Zealand Aerobics team departed. Aitken was one of the judges at the Street Dance New Zealand Regional and National qualifiers held earlier on this year for this event. Aitken was asked by event organisers in Las Vegas to stay on as the New Zealand judge for the Hip Hop Championships but sadly could not do so, as she had to bring the young New Zealand Aerobics team home.

So where to from here for these talented young Kiwis? Aitken's athletes will be working towards winning another National title in their new grade - the Age Group 2 Individual Women and Age Group 2 Trio division at the New Zealand Open Nationals in October. The girls will then be following a strict training regime under Aitken and the training team at Achieve Academy of Sport and Fitness for the 2010 Suzuki World Cup in Japan followed by the 2010 F.I.G. World Championships in France (Which are held every two years).

Don't just dream about it, make it happen - www.achieve.ac.nz."