Oldest competitor Chusovitina eyes Beijing
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-11-22 11:25

She is considered one of the favourites for the vault title at the Melbourne championships, which feature individual competition only, after a strong series of results in World Cup events this year.

Her fellow competitors in Melbourne are considerably younger. China's Fan Ye, the beam world champion last time, is 17 and the Americans are putting great faith in national all-round champion Nastia Liukin, who is 16.

Chusovitina said she saw no problems in continuing to juggle the demands of a family and international gymnastics and would continue at least the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"I'm doing what every woman is doing. You must take care of your home and your husband and your child," she said.

"The most important (thing) is to be optimistic and not to get into bad moods and just believe that you can do it.

"As for my plans, if everything is all right I'm looking forward to competing in Beijing in 2008 and then who knows? Maybe I will continue."