EXCITEMENT is building as the 2008 Olympic Games draw closer, but for Moreton Bay College artistic gymnasts Chloe Sims, of Alexandra Hills, and Larrissa Miller, of Wellington Point, the ‘butterflies in the stomach’ are reaching fever-pitch.

Both girls are preparing for the first 2008 Olympic selection trial to be staged at the Australian Championships which will be held at the Vodafone Arena in Melbourne from May 20-25.

Queensland’s first Commonwealth Games artistic gymnastic champion and World Championship Australian representative Chloe Sims will bring her all around apparatus and international experience to her quest for Olympic selection.

MBC Year 11 student Larrissa Miller, in her first year as a senior international, is expected to present a challenge to her more experienced senior Australian internationals.

Late last year, MBC international rhythmic gymnast Naazmi Johnston, of Ormiston, created history for MBC and for Queensland by becoming the state’s first rhythmic gymnast to achieve Olympic selection.

As the leading rhythmic gymnast at the MBC Centre of Excellence in Gymnastics, Naazmi becomes MBC’s first home grown Olympian.

MBC is the only college in the independent school system to provide for the complete in-school development of the academic, pastoral and gymnastic needs of its students from the recreational to the Olympic level.

MBC Gymnastics offers exciting and professionally-conducted recreational and competitive programs in women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics and cheerleading for primary and secondary aged girls.

Limited positions are now available in the Women’s Artistic Level 1 to 3 Program for young girls wishing to learn artistic gymnastics. Enquiries regarding the gymnastics program can be directed to MBC’s head of gymnastics Peter Dowdell on 0414 517 385.