Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) gymnasts will take their first steps towards qualifying for the London 2012 Olympic Games when they line up for Australia at the world championships in Rotterdam this weekend. 

It’s been a whirlwind campaign for Australia’s gymnasts, flying out of the Commonwealth Games athlete’s village in Delhi a week ago in preparation for the world championships.

Australia’s men and women’s teams must finish in the top 24 to progress to the second Olympic qualifying event at the 2011 world championships.

Australia has a number of individual medal prospects in the all around and apparatus finals.

Last year, Lauren Mitchell became the first Australian woman to medal in an individual apparatus final at a world championship, winning silver on the beam and floor.

While, Dual world championship medallist Prashanth Sellathurai known as the ‘prince of the pommel’ will be out to claim gold.

Institute gymnast Josh Jefferis and Luke Wiwatowski, along with AIS/GA camps based gymnast Sam Offord and Tom Pichler will also be looking to get amongst the medals.

Jefferis won two-gold and a bronze medal at the Delhi Games. 

The 2010 World Championships will be the largest in history with a total of 615 gymnasts from 73 federations competing.