Anne Bigham, Gymnastics - Stamping out bias
Issue: Volume 3 Number 1
The look of absolute disbelief on the face of a young gymnast on seeing her score at the Los Angeles Olympics launched Australian judge Anne Bigham on a crusade to stamp out bias in the sport she has devoted her life to.
'I can still see her disappointment. That one moment is still with me. It changed my whole outlook,' Anne recalls.
It was Anne’s first Olympics as a judge and while she doesn’t want to reveal the name or country of the gymnast, it opened her eyes to the bias that existed at international events.
'She should’ve been given a ten and she was standing there waiting to run back up to wave to the crowd, which is what you did if you got a perfect score. But she didn’t get the score she deserved.'
Anne came home determined to do something to stop this happening again.
'That feeling of having no control wasn’t good. I wanted to make sure that the kid who did the best job ended up on the podium at the end of the day.'
So she began to do whatever she could to make judging fairer, with the help of many others in the Australian Gymnastic Federation, like Technical Director Kym Dowdell, President Jim Barry, Executive Director Peggy Browne and AIS and the then National Coach Ju Ping Tian.
'They were all great mentors, Ju Ping in particular. She gave me the impetus I needed. We realised we needed to influence the other international judges to do things the right way. Ju Ping was producing the gymnasts to take Australia to the next level and we needed to pave the way for them.'
She set about establishing education programs for judges and developing their skills, one of the roles in the position of National Judging Co-ordinator for Women’s Artistic Gymnastics with the Australian Gymnastic Federation (1977-1998). Anne is currently Program Manager of the Gymnastics S.A. Junior Elite and Talent Program for boys and girls.
The coaching and judging effort paid off, with the Australian women’s team now ranked in the top six internationally, our gymnasts winning medals at major events and our officials rated among the best in the world.
None are held in higher regard than Anne, who was recently ranked Number One Women’s Artistics Gymnastics Judge out of 120 judges from 70 nations after an international judging exam, a first for an Australian.
'I was a bit taken aback. It was an incredibly intensive course. For six weeks before the exam I did nothing but study the new code, learn the new rules, elements and points and practice judging.'
The exam is done at the end of every four year Olympic cycle when the International Technical Committee modifies the judging code to reflect the development of the sport and to set the direction they intend gymnastics to take in the next cycle.
'It’s very prestigious and highly competitive. I was pretty chuffed. Australian judges have long earned the respect of the international gymnastic community – and this good standing and recognition is very important, as it also transfers to our athletes when they represent Australia on the international scene.'
Anne’s number one ranking was the pinnacle of a resume that’s impressive and extensive, including three Olympics, four Commonwealth Games and seven World Championships. Her efforts have been often recognised, with the highlights being an a Medal of the Order of Australia and life membership of the Australian Gymnastic Federation.
She gives much of the credit for her most recent success to fellow judge and long-time friend Danica Mladenovic.
'We put our lives on hold for a week and went away and just studied. Danica was a real slave-driver. She had us up at 6am studying and we’d go all day.'
Danica also did well, ranking as a Category 1 Judge. The two make a formidable team and have had a long association with the sport since they both ran the Western Youth Centre Gymnastics Club in South Australia from 1964 to 1991.
'It was a very successful club and we had several girls go on to represent the country, including Kerry Bayliss, who went to the 1980 Olympics, which was fantastic.'
The friendships forged with Danica and many others are one of the great rewards of all the hard work and time Anne has put into being a gymnastics judge.
'The people are the best part. It’s great to share that bond.'
She couldn’t have done it without the support of her family and the help of her mum Mary Bell, husband Don, sons Ray and David and daughter Julie, who have encouraged her to make the most of every opportunity.
Thirty-one-year-old Julie has followed her mother into international judging and has represented Australia as both a gymnast and judge.
'It’s great. She has an excellent ‘eye’. I’m immensely proud of her and Australia is lucky to have her.'
Julie shares Anne’s enthusiasm and zeal, which she believes are the keys to being a good judge.
'You have to have that passion for the sport. Of course you also need the technical competence and be prepared to put in lots of practice too,' Anne said.
'You also need to keep cool under pressure and keep the right perspective. But above all you have to love the sport and the people in it.'
