Sport
26 September, 2026
Gym dream comes true for Tess
WHAT, at first, was a dream for Tess Soper, 10, of Kurrimine Beach became reality when she qualified for the Queensland State Championships in the women’s artistic gymnastics (WAG) level four.
This month, Tess travelled to Brisbane with her family and coach to compete in her first state championships. “I am so happy and excited, it was my dream,” she said.
She started gymnastics at a recreational level with Tully Gym and Tramp Club (TGTC) where she qualified to move into the competitive program training with coach Greg Corsiglia.
In 2025, she was the level three regional champion in vault.
Going into the state championship this month, she plans to “give it her best”.
She said she wenty through each routine in her head prior to each performance which gave her the added confidence that she knew what needed to be done.
Corsiglia said Tess was skilled
“Tess is an extremely talented gymnast who is dedicated, goal driven and a hard worker,” he said. “These attributes have resulted in her being the youngest state qualifier from TGTC.”
She names Georgia Godwin, a WAG 2022 Commonwealth Games all-arounder and vault champion, 2020 Summer Olympics team member, as well as two-time world cup silver medallist, as her example of what hard work and training can accomplish.
Corsiglia, came to Australia 25 years ago to become head MAG coach at the High Performance Centre in Prahran, Victoria.
He ran the men’s artistic gymnastics program (which had Olympian Tyson Bull in their program as a junior and senior competitor).
He decided to retire to FNQ with his wife and moved to Hull Heads. Going back to coaching at TGTC, he started a girls program moving into competitive gymnasts as the girls mastered the basics.
The move to the club’s igloo offered the entire program expansion from kinder gym to competitive WAG program coached by an accredited coaching staff.
For more information on the gymnastics program at TGTC contact tullygymntrampclub@gmail.com or the Facebook Page Tully Gym and Tramp Club.