Gymnast Heath Thorpe isn’t going down without a fight after “devastating” World Championships snub
found about his snub last month. Australia’s gymnastics body failed to select him for the marquee event, despite his recent triumphs on the mat.
This spring, Thorpe won the Australian All-Around Championships, one of the country’s highest honors in his sport.He was also part of the team that earned Australia a place in the World Championships, winning the competition’s floor event for the second year in a row.
Belgium will host the championships this October. “I am absolutely heartbroken to share that I have not been selected to the Australian team for the 2023 World Gymnastics Championships,” Thorpe posted at the time. “Despite my many results and improvements this year alone, including my recent Australian All-Around title, I will not be one of the five Aussie gymnasts afforded an opportunity to compete in the biggest Olympic qualifier come October.”Later, Thorpe hinted he would appeal the decision. “At this time, I am not allowed to speak to the selection process and what has occurred, but am hopeful that the subsequent findings are made public in due course,” he wrote.A post shared by Heath Thorpe (@heaththorpe)On Thursday, Thorpe provided an update on his situation.
He said he appealed his non-selection to the National Sports Tribunal, which partially upheld his case. When Australia Gymnastics didn’t reverse its decision, he appealed once again, but lacked the financial means to move forward“I did not have the financial means to continue the case,” he wrote.
