Rizzo, Sellathurai head Aussie worlds' gymnasts

Former world high bar champion Philippe Rizzo and world pommel horse silver medalist Prashanth Sellathurai head an Australian team of six men named Monday for the FIG World Artistic Championships in London in October.

Former world high bar champion Philippe Rizzo (pictured) and world pommel horse silver medalist Prashanth Sellathurai head an Australian team of six men named Monday for the FIG World Artistic Championships in London in October.

Rizzo and Sellathurai will be looking to reassess their position amongst the world?s best having been denied the opportunity to compete at last year's Beijing Olympics when Australia?s men team failed to qualify, Gymnastics Australia said.

The pair will be joined by Beijing Olympian Sam Simpson, reigning national champion Sam Offord, 2008 national champion Joshua Jefferis and 2007 world championship representative Luke Wiwatowski.

Offord will be Australia?s sole all round competitor at the world championships with selectors choosing to focus on gymnasts' individual apparatus strengths.

The world championships will take place from October 13-18.

Australia - Sam Offord (all round), Prashanth Sellathurai (pommel horse/rings), Philippe Rizzo (parallel bars/horizontal bar), Sam Simpson (floor/pommel horse), Joshua Jefferis (rings/parallel Bars), Luke Wiwatowski (floor/horizontal bar).