The prodigy of rhythmic gymnastics, Emmanouela Frroku, has achieved the ultimate dream as she officially earned a ticket to the Paris Olympics.
Emmanouela was officially given her ticket on Tuesday in Melbourne, sealing her place as a member of the Australian Olympic Team.
“I still cannot believe it,” the young gymnast told Neos Kosmos.
“It has always been my dream ever since I was little, so to actually get the ticket and to be on the team, is just crazy to me.”
Emmanouela, who migrated from Greece to Australia with her parents and siblings in July 2016, explained that her dream felt like it would be a reality after she and her team won an event in Sofia, Bulgaria, earlier this year in April.
“That was the qualifying event to get to the continental championships and because only one team could get to the continental championships, it meant that we had basically already qualified for the Olympics, though it was not official,” she said.
“It was made official with an email which we received from the Australian Olympic Team.”
The gymnast said she is extremely excited for the overall experience of meeting new people and living in the Olympic village, though she stressed that she and her team are aiming high.
“Competition wise, our target is to make finals which will be really hard. That is our ultimate goal,” Emmanuela said.
Athanasia (Nancy) Delinicolis, Emmanouela’s mother, said she and her husband, Dritan Frroku, are overcome with pride for their daughter’s achievement.
“This is something we have all been working for the last 12 years,” she told Neos Kosmos.
“We had many, many difficulties coming in our way but we never thought of stopping because Emmanouela wanted this so much and we did everything we could to support her. I cannot describe in words how proud we are of her.”
Delinicolis expressed the surprise from many outsiders to Emmanouela’s ticket, given she is still extremely young.
In fact, Emmanouela’s mother revealed she is actually the youngest gymnast competing for Australia at the Olympics and will celebrate her 17th birthday on July 31 in Paris.
“Her father and I were really the only ones that believed she could do it. Everyone else was kind of looking towards the next Olympics in Los Angeles as the more realistic opportunity,” Delinicolis said.
Emmanouela will be in Paris from July 22 – August 13 and her mother stressed that the family will do everything they can to be in Paris and see her perform.
“It will be very satisfying and rewarding for us just to see her on that stage representing Australia. It will be the biggest reward for every sacrifice. All we want is to see her happy, see her performing and have the title of Olympian, which will be with her forever,” she said.
“I need to especially thank my husband because without him, we could not be able to do it. It needs the whole family to do something like this.”
