Last year’s World Cup champion Lauren Mitchell and 2006 world championship medallists Philippe Rizzo and Prashanth Sellathurai will spearhead an experienced Australian team at the 2009 FIG World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, which get underway tonight at London’s O2 Arena, the home of the 2012 Olympic Games.

The 2009 edition of the world championships is an individual all around and apparatus competition, providing an opportunity for individual prowess, with no additional pressure of a team title to be contested.

Rizzo and Sellathurai will lead an experienced Australian men’s team that also includes Beijing Olympian Sam Simpson, reigning national champion Sam Offord and 2008 national champion Joshua Jefferis.

Sellathurai, a world championship silver medallist, is also keen to impress on his favourite apparatus – the pommel horse. Sellathurai has one of the most difficult routines of any gymnast in the world on this apparatus and only needs to make the finals in order to contest a medal in London. The 23-year-old will also compete on the rings.

Men’s national coach Vladimir Vatkin rewarded Sam Offord for his standout performance at the 2009 national championships, selecting the South Australian as Australia’s sole all around competitor at the championships.

Rounding out the men’s team will be Simpson and Jefferis, both of whom are looking to put in strong performances on individual apparatus ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games and 2012 Olympic Games.

In the women’s team, Mitchell will be joined in London by fellow Beijing Olympians Shona Morgan and Georgia Bonora. The experienced trio will be backed up by 17-year-old Queenslander Larrissa Miller who will be making her world championships debut.

Women’s national coach Peggy Liddickhas been happy with the team’s preparation and has composed her team to fit the competition.

‘Three of the four girls have previously competed at a world championship and are experienced in this type of competition,’ said Liddick.

‘Because there’s no team event at these championships we are trying to get the girls to focus on perfecting their individual routines. A world championships winning performance is what we are going for.’

Each nation can name a maximum of two athletes to compete in the all around competition, with Liddick nominating Mitchell and Bonora to fly the flag for Australia.

The 2009 FIG World Artistic Gymnastics Championships will see 457 gymnasts from 75 countries compete for 12 world championships medals. The event will kick off with two days of qualifications, followed by four days of finals.