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Interview: Multiple Commonwealth gold medallist Lauren Mitchell

Multiple Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lauren Mitchell speaks to Sports Mole after the first day of artistic gymnastics at the Glasgow 2014.

Australia's women have dominated the artistic gymnastics at recent Commonwealth Games, winning the team gold every time since 1998.

As things stand, however, it looks like their reign might be coming to an end as England have a one-and-a-half-point lead over the Aussies at the halfway stage in Glasgow.

Following today's two of four disciplines on the vault and uneven bars, England lead the way on 85.390, with Australia second on 83.882 and Wales third with 81.398.

Lauren Mitchell is the only member of this year's Australian team that competed and won gold in Delhi four years ago, and Sports Mole caught up with her after tonight's action.

Australia's gymnast Lauren Mitchell performs on the floor during the women's qualification of the artistic gymnastics event of the London Olympic Games on July 29, 2012© Getty Images

England lead at the halfway stage. Can you pull it back?

"Yeah, I mean if we hit our routines like we do in training then, you know, anything can happen. We're just focusing on being together as a team and have been in our own little bubble, not really focusing on what anyone else has been doing. We can't control what they're doing, their scores and their outcome. We are in the UK after all, we're not in Australia so anything can happen. We're strong on beam and floor, so hopefully we can bring our best tomorrow."

You're the only one in your team to have been to the Commonwealth Games before. Do you feel a bit like a leader?

"A little bit, yeah. They keep asking what Delhi was like and blah blah blah, but Larrissa [Miller], Olivia [Vivian] and I have been to the Olympics before so we know what the Village environment is like. Georgia [Rose Brown] and Mary [Anne Monckton] were the Olympic reserves so they've seen a big Village too.

"We're such a tight-knit group. The youngest is 19, which is old, and that's never really happened before! We're just all really excited to be here and I'm really proud of them."

Lauren Mitchell of Western Australia poses during the Australian National Gymnastics Championships at Hisense Arena on May 25, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia© Getty Images

There's been some complaints that the Village is too loud at times. Have you found it to be that way?

"Well, no. We're more towards the outskirts so if there's stuff going on in the middle we can't really hear it."

How does Glasgow compare to Delhi?

"It's completely different. In Delhi the atmosphere wasn't as loud and the arena definitely wasn't as full. It's great to have a full arena and nice to have the English support behind us, if that makes sense. Even though we're Australia, there's that kind of friendly rivalry going on and it's nice to have that English support, being an English-speaking country helps."

The team final concludes tomorrow before the top individuals contest the all-around final on Wednesday and apparatus finals on Thursday.

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Pascal Lemesre
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Australia's Naoya Tsukahara competes on the pommel horse during day one of the men's team final at Glasgow's SSE Hydro on July 28, 2014
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