Proving the doubters wrong drives gymnast Enid Sung to new heights

Enid Sung missed out on a place at the Rio Olympics through injury and effectively retired from gymnastics. But under the guidance of her long-time coach Danielle Le Ray and the addition of some Russian expertise, Sung is ready to re-write her sporting career at the grand old age of 22.

It may be hard to imagine that, at 22 years old, Enid Sung's life as a rhythmic gymnast hasn't got too much longer to run.

She started out in the sport at the age of 10, and her career has taken her to the Pacific Rim Championships (2010) and the Australian Championships (2015). 

A heartbreaking shoulder injury at the wrong time put her out of action for three months in the lead-up to Rio and have ruined her chances of competing at an Olympics. The next best thing is April 2018's Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Sung's road to sporting redemption has come thanks to the love and support of the entire Australian gymnastics community.

"I've always had kind words and thoughts and it makes such a big difference," she told SBS World News.

Enid and training partners under the watchful eyes of Danielle Le Ray [front right] and Russian coach Tatiana Kozadaeva Source: SBS

After her mother, the most significant person in her career has been long-time coach Danielle Le Ray.

Le Ray competed for Australia at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and if Sung were to go on to the Commonwealth Games next year, she says it's thanks to her coach - "It was her belief that instigated the whole thing."

Enid Sung hard at work at the Le Ray Gymnastics centre in the Western Sydney suburb of Greenacre Source: SBS News

The next stop for Sung is the World University Games, which get underway in Taipei, Taiwan, from August 19.

A strong showing there will give her ideal experience ahead of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

In the meantime, she'll juggle her Media and Communications degree and a developing acting career that has seen given her the chance to appear in several commercials, but a tilt at the Tokyo Olympics may not be beyond her.