Sport

Revival Aerobics Studio smashes it at state championships

Aug 9, 2021

Shepparton’s latest — and perhaps greatest — sports aerobics centre has stamped its mark on the state, scooping the pool at the SchoolAerobics Victorian Championships last month.

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Revival Aerobics Studio, opened in 2020, shook Geelong Arena on July 10-11 as its citizens polled a staggering 12 medals (five gold, three silver, four bronze) from 15 entries.

In doing so, they’ve all qualified for nationals.

Revival co-owner Sean Reynolds was elated with the haul; after all, it was the first time the crew was on stage together.

And it knocked it out of the park.

“We felt prepared going into it, but I don’t think anyone expected such a great result,” Reynolds said.

“Everyone was just so proud of each other, heaps of them got personal best scores; we’re honestly just kicking goals this year.

“We opened in 2020 and have had no comps except for online — it’s been our first year of live competition and we’ve already had such a great season.”

Sport Aerobics is a niche recreation, being a high-intensity variant of gymnastics, which pushes bodies to the limit during a two-minute routine.

When Reynolds and Daniel Johnson, who each boast more than 10 years’ experience in the sport, came together to form Revival Aerobics Studio last year, the people flocked.

From six athletes at the beginning to now having more than 20 enrolled, the Revival story is one of success.

But that doesn’t mean it’s been free of grief.

“We didn’t go on stage once last year and that is the point of it all — it is a performance sport,” Reynolds said.

“That was a huge struggle.”

With COVID-19 placing a clamp on live performance, Reynolds and co had been forced to train via Zoom and compete via video submission — but it clearly hasn’t halted their progress.

The 12 medals earned at the state championships only adds to the mounting tally of 26 for 2021, which may just grow when the nationals roll around on August 20.

From a total of 15 entries, 13 qualified for national championships.

Molly Stevens — Primary Soloist, blue: First

Gabi Paglia — Secondary Soloist, blue: Fourth

Georgia Comline — Secondary Soloist, yellow: Third

Sean Reynolds — OldSkool Soloist, yellow: Third

Dangerous — Yellow Pairs routine, Sean Reynolds and Georgia Comline: First

The Funky Bunch — Fitness Team (Gabi Paglia, Georgia Comline, Daniel Johnson, Sean Reynolds, Lucy Membrey (lives in Bendigo): Second

Revival Royals — Cheer Team (All Revival squad athletes): Second

Audition section

Grace Ferrari — Secondary Junior, blue: Third

Gabi Paglia — Secondary Senior, blue: First

Georgia Comline — Secondary Senior, yellow: First