Local student Andy Petzke is juggling lectures, assignments, work and gruelling training sessions as she prepares to represent Australia on the world stage.
The 19-year-old Curtin University Health Sciences student has been selected as part of Western Australia’s first senior acrobatic gymnastics trio to compete for Australia at the Acrobatic Gymnastics World Cups in Europe next month.
Andy and teammates Carly Shott and Jenny Feng, known as ACKROBATS, will compete in Bulgaria from May 31 and Azerbaijan from June 9.
Between training, university and work as a dental receptionist, Andy says life is “very hectic”.
“I have training either morning or night, some days both,” she said.
“While also attending my university classes at Curtin during the day, and finding time to study and work in between.
“Sometimes, I even find myself so desperate for time that I have to watch my uni lectures during my lunch break at work.
“Although it is busy, I wouldn’t change it for the world, this is my dream.”
Andy said she realised acrobatics was no longer just a hobby when she stopped caring about missing social events.
“I used to get quite upset that I would have a limited social life, and miss out on school parties and events due to Saturday and Friday night trainings,” she said.
“But when I didn’t care about missing out on social events for training anymore because all I wanted to do was train and improve, I knew it wasn’t a hobby anymore.”
The trio’s selection marks a milestone for WA acrobatic gymnastics.
Andy said making the Australian team made years of sacrifice feel worthwhile.
“Sometimes in sport, it can feel like you are sacrificing so much for no return, so it is nice to feel it paying off,” she said.
“It is also super exciting to show the world what we can do.”
Acrobatic gymnastics combines strength, precision and trust, with athletes performing lifts, throws and balance routines.
Andy said trust within the trio was everything.
“Jenny needs to trust that Carly and I will catch her, and Carly and I need to trust that Jenny will complete the skill in the air,” she said.
“Every time we fall and catch one another, it builds trust for the next time.”
Teammate Carly Shott said the trio clicked quickly because they shared the same goal.
“From the beginning, we shared a clear goal of competing at the highest level and representing Australia,” she said.
“What really made it work, though, was trust.”
Jenny Feng said the team worked well because they adapted to each other.
“When we’re not feeling amazing we all adapt the program so that we’re still making progress but it’s less draining,” she said.
“Trainings are fun and chill but we still work hard for our goals and know when to focus.”
Despite representing Australia, the trio is largely self-funded and must cover major costs including travel, accommodation and competition fees.
Andy said that part was frustrating.
“As we are spending so many hours in the gym training, every other hour is spent either studying for uni, or working to make the money to go,” she said.
“We do many fundraising activities to help with the cost of the trip, but even with fundraising, we are still out of pocket a huge amount for something that should be funded.”
She said she had felt supported by Curtin University through its Elite Athlete Program, which allows flexibility with assignments and access to gym facilities.
Andy’s mother Michelle Petzke said watching her daughter reach this point had been emotional.
“It’s been a roller coaster to be honest,” she said.
“The highs amazing, but there have also been real challenges with injuries and setbacks along the way.”
She said the family had made financial and emotional sacrifices to help Andy chase her dream.
“It really does take a village to get to this level,” she said.
Coach Debbs van Hagen said the trio had already made history.
“This trio has made history as the very first team from WA to compete in this division and represent Australia at the Acrobatic Gymnastics World Cups,” she said.
“Their accomplishment marks a significant milestone.”
Andy said success at the World Cups was about more than medals.
“We feel like we have massively succeeded already even just being selected,” she said.
“We would love to just go out there, represent Australia and do our very best.”
