Lauren Mitchell stands as Australia’s most accomplished female gymnast of all time. She secured her place in history by becoming Australia’s first-ever World Championship Gold medallist and currently holds the title of Commonwealth Games Champion across multiple disciplines.
Mitchell’s passion for gymnastics ignited at the age of six during a memorable ‘Gymbus’ birthday party aboard a double-decker bus filled with gym equipment and balloons. Joining her local club in Perth, she swiftly caught the attention of the WAIS high-performance program.
In 2008, Mitchell made her mark on the international stage at the Beijing Olympic Games, contributing to Australia's sixth-place finish—the nation's best Olympic team result to date. Soon after, she made history by clinching the beam title at a World Cup final, marking the first time an Australian female gymnast had achieved such a feat.
The following year, Mitchell further etched her name in Australian gymnastics lore at the 2009 World Championships, claiming silver on both beam and floor exercise, and narrowly missing a medal in the all-around final by a mere 0.025 points. She became the first Australian female gymnast to medal in an individual apparatus final at a World Championships and the only Australian to secure two medals in the same competition.
Despite enduring setbacks from injuries including a broken hand, sprained ankle, and adductor strain that sidelined her for nearly a year, Mitchell staged a triumphant return in October 2010. At the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, she captured an impressive four gold medals—the most by any Australian artistic gymnast at a single Games. Shortly after this feat, she competed at the World Championships in Rotterdam, where she made history again by becoming Australia’s first female gymnast to claim a world title, winning gold in the floor exercise.
In a stellar year that remains unparalleled in Australian gymnastic history, Mitchell continued her exceptional performances, securing five gold medals across two World Cup circuit appearances in November—the first Australian gymnast to achieve three gold medals at a single World Cup event.
Beyond her athletic achievements, Mitchell serves as an inspiration and role model for young gymnasts across Australia, admired for her tireless work ethic and commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
