📷 TACKLD

Story courtesy of College Sport Media.

The College Sport Wellington Sportsperson of the Year awards recognise students who have reached the highest possible levels in their sport. After performing in two world cups (Paris, France and Szombathely, Hungary), Ava Baddeley’s work ethic and dedication to Artistic Gymnastics saw her achieve our region’s Sportsperson of the Year Supreme female award in Wellington.

Ava was only three years old when she first fell in love with gymnastics. It was a passion she shared with her mother. From a young age she was consumed with perfecting her flips, leaps and splits. Techniques she ardently practiced at home as well as at her local gym club.

As a nine-year-old she was selected to represent Wellington at Nationals. Ava has since annually attended all nationals since 2016. In early 2020 (before the onset of Covid restrictions) Ava got her first taste of competing overseas. She was part of a club team that participated in the USA in a meet for gymnasts from different Pacific Rim countries.

With Covid restrictions lifted, Ava’s exposure to international meets would continue when representing New Zealand at the 2023 Oceania Champions. She was delighted to achieve a top ten finish. In an event normally dominated by Australians, Ava and her teammates performed remarkably well. Her, then, schoolmate Reece Cobb achieved the accolade of finishing second overall.

More glory was to follow in 2024. Ava was selected to represent New Zealand at another international meeting of Pacific Rim countries. The American gymnasts proved too strong taking top placings. Baddeley finished a very creditable 15^th overall with her combined score over four events (vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise). Outside the four American gymnasts, Ava had one of the top floor scores.

All this led to Ava going to Europe, this year, for two of her sports’ bigger meets. The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) sanctions different World Challenge Cup events as part of an annual circuit. These meets would see Baddeley compete against some of her sports’ elite performers.

The challenge goes beyond just the athletes alone. New Zealand’s location restricts regular high-level competition for our gymnasts. Europe itself hosts competitive gymnastics events every 2-3 weeks for much of the year. The scale of the sport also varies widely across different countries. Bigger nations like USA, UK, France and Germany have access to significantly more resources which includes top coaching, training methodologies and equipment.

Incredibly Baddeley made her full international debut at one of her sport’s most prestigious events. Ava admits it was imposing to be somewhere totally foreign like Paris and be surrounded by the cream of world gymnastics’ current crop. Added to that, Ava would find herself performing in an arena with nearly 25,000 spectators. Easily the largest audience she has ever performed in front of.

As the Paris meet is part of the FIG annual series, gymnasts are only able to participate in two disciplines. Ava was entered in the Vault and Floor, where she achieved a top 25 vault and then a top 40 floor finish.

Following the prestigious Paris event, Ava travelled to Hungary to participate in another top tier competition. The Szombathely Challenge Cup is another key event in the FIG calendar. Baddeley achieved improved scores and rankings on both the vault and floor.

Ava mentioned that as the tour progressed, she felt more at ease with completing her routines. Being able to compete at that level does require consistent exposure to high-profile meets. There was no real expectation with results. However, the team were happy with how things went. The experience was essential for Baddeley, as she continues to compete in the international arena. The European events also help with qualifying for next year's Commonwealth games. Artistic gymnastics is one of the ten sports confirmed for Glasgow.

As for the SPOTYs, Ava did not know what to expect from the evening. She picked up an Emerging Code Award for Gymnastics during the main presentation session.

As the evening was ending, the finalists for the Supreme award were announced. She was surprised to see her name presented on the big screen. Sitting with school mates from Queen Margaret’s College there was delight as three more of their students were revealed as finalists. Also, at the table was QMC’s Principal Jayne-Ann Young, who Ava says struggled to contain her growing excitement with each announcement.

Baddeley admits she was totally shocked to be announced as the Female Supreme Sportsperson award winner. She looked totally stunned as she approached the stage and when her bio was read to the audience. Ava regained her composure to share sincere thanks to her parents, coaches, school and teachers.

When asked about some of the people who have assisted her, she included her former coach Tracy Sharp at the Newtown Capital Gymnastics Club and current coach Jordan Biggs of Kapiti Gymnastics. Ava is also grateful for the help she has received from her Year 13 Dean, Florence Hamon, who has supported her academically despite a busy sporting year. Obviously, the biggest thanks go to her parents who have given so much to allow Ava to fulfil her potential in gymnastics.

However, with this support, an essential part of Ava’s story is her own drive to succeed and an incredible commitment to training. Her dedication encompasses a year-round programme which incorporates five training sessions a week, with each session being four hours in duration. Separate to her training are physio, which ensures she is pro-actively looking after herself and a Pilates workout for an additional stretching regime.

Ava does get to enjoy a couple of weeks rest over Christmas. Next year she will continue training at the Kapiti club where Baddeley also coaches younger club members. Tertiary studies are on the horizon with Ava commencing a Sports and Exercise Science degree at Massey University.

 Finalists for Female Sportsperson Supreme Award, 2025

• Ava Baddeley (Queen Margaret College) – Gymnastics
• Rebecca Bailey (St Oran's College) – Athletics
• Iley Nunns  (Queen Margaret College) – Biking
• Pippa Taylor (Queen Margaret College) – Shooting
• Norrie Williams (St Mary's College) – Taekwondo
• Greer Wilson (Queen Margaret College) – Football and Futsal

    
Article added: Friday 14 November 2025