Jessica Weintraub

When the build-up to an Olympics gets tough, rhythmic gymnast Jessica Weintraub loves the fact she can lean on her teammates.

Jessica, who was born in Melbourne but moved to Brisbane with her family several years ago, is part of the Aspire Gymnastics group, which will compete in group rhythmic at the Paris Games.

“Even if we do have nerves, we have a whole team of wonderful people … together we are very strong,” she said. “When we’re on the floor, everything else just goes away.”

The group – Jess, Phoebe Learmont, Saskia Broedelet, Emmanouela Frroku and Lidiia Iakovleva – performed well throughout 2023, winning medals at competitions such as the Sofia Cup in Bulgaria.

The group won a quota for Australia with a victory at the 2024 Oceania Continental titles in Budapest, Hungary. The championships were run in conjunction with the European titles.

It is just the second time an Australian rhythmic gymnastics group has qualified to compete at an Olympic Games.