Competition continues at the U of Calgary tonight, with the apparatus finals.
In its heyday, the Jurassic Classic hosted international elites (e.g., In 2002,
Olympic champion Carly Patterson topped the field at Jurassic). International
Elites are once again returning to the Wild Rose competition. Perhaps Jurassic
will follow suit, next year?
Congratulations to team Canada for a strong medal haul at the 2010 Gymnix
World Cup Kevin Lytwyn and Nathan Gafuik owned the podium!
Amongst the juniors, team Canada 1 placed first followed by Russia and team
Canada 2. Individually, Madeline Gardiner (CAN) topped the field
followed by Riley Cholod (CAN), and Mariya Karpova (RUS).
Canadians won three of four apparatus finals: Brianna Tsang (vault), Riley
Cholod (bars), and Madeline Gardiner (beam). Dianna Bulimar (ROM) topped on
floor.
Dominique Pegg took silver in last weekend's WOGA Classic in Frisco, TX.
First place went to the home club's Sophia Lee. Rounding out the podium was Kayla Williams,
gold medallist on vault at last year's Worlds.
"The WOGA Classic was an excellent event for Dominique to try and hone
her skills and try a few new ones to test their stability..." her coach
Elizabeth Brubaker told OGF.
Other Canadians competing in WOGA Classic's senior division included Emily
Bigras (9th AA), Gabrielle May (10th AA), Bianca Dancose-Giambattisto (11th
AA), Rochelle Bernier (12th), and Cynthia Lemieux (14th AA).
Up next for most of these girls is L'International Gymnix, with several
moving on to the Wild Rose Invitational early April. Dominique Pegg is taking
a different path; Next up for her is the American Cup, taking place March 6 in
a suburb of Boston. "When I first received the news that I was invited to
attend the American Cup, I knew this was a major competition, but it didn?t
really hit me right away," Pegg told International
Gymnast. "Once it sunk in I started looking into it a lot more, then
I got very excited. I realized how prestigious this competition really was,
and I felt very honored to be a part of this experience."
In April Pegg travels to Melbourne, Australia for the Pacific Rim
Championships.
Just
Bounce Trampoline Club Inc. requires additional administrative help to
accommodate growing demand for their programs! Link....
Advanced
ticket sale starts March 1, 2010 and goes until March 25. Tickets can be
purchased for single days or for the entire weekend.
Next week on the Mercer Report, Rick travels to Calgary's Olympic Park and
Olympic Oval to transform Canadian gymnast and Gold Medallist
Kyle
Shewfelt into a Winter Olympian, with a few surprises along the way! The
Mercer Report airs on CBC on Tuesday February 9. Check your local listings
for times!
Preview photos available at Rick
Mercer Reports (Facebook)
JANUARY 28 - OTTAWA SEEKING PROVINCIAL COACH
The Ottawa Gymnastics Centre (OGC) is seeking a provincial level coach. Link....
JANUARY 28 - RICHARDSON RUNS IN VANCOUVER 2012 TORCH RELAY
 |
Kate Runs with Vancouver 2010 Torch.
(Click for larger image). Photo courtesy of Christie
Schellenberg-Geissler
Two-time Olympian Kate Richardson ran with the Vancouver 2010 torch
yesterday in Kamloops!
JANUARY 28 - VACULIK TO ATTEND STANFORD, STILL AIMING FOR LONDON 2012
Kristina Vaculik plans to enroll at Stanford this fall, representing
the Cardinals in NCAA competition. She then plans to defer for a year, to
concentrate on helping Canada qualify a team to the 2012 Olympics. (Link: International
Gymnast)
JANUARY 18 - SHEWFELT RUNS IN VANCOUVER 2010 TORCH RELAY
Kyle Shewfelt took part in today's Vancouver 2010 Olympic torch
relay, carrying the torch some 300 meter along Calgary's Red
Mile. To mark the torch's homecoming, the City of Calgary organized a bash
at Olympic Plaza (site of the medal ceremonies at the 1988 Olympic Games).
Several other Olympians were also hand signing autographs, including 2008
Beijing teammate Nathan Gafuik.
The experience lived up to Shewfelt's expectations, "While I was
running, I was thinking about the power of the flame and how tonight; it
brought all of us together in celebration of something so amazing and
powerful!"
Earlier in the day Shewfelt published a blog, "I'm
Running the Olympic Torch, Baby!", detailing his childhood memories
of seeing the 1988 torch run, what the flame means to him, and recollecting on
his success at the Olympic Games.
JANUARY 17 - MEN WRAP UP GBR-CAN-JPN TRAINING CAMP IN ENGLAND
Men's gymnastics teams from Great Britain, Japan, and Canada wrapped up a
ten day training camp today in Shropshire, England, site of Britain's
Lilleshall National Sports Training Centre. Representing Canada was Casey
Sandy, Jaylan Birl, Jason Scott, Robert Watson, and Jayd Lukenchuck.
More details can be found at BAGA.
DECEMBER 21 - GARDINER TOP PLACING NON-RUSSIAN AT VORONIN CUP
Madeline Gardiner of Cambridge Kips placed 10th AA at the Voronin
Cup in Moscow, Russia. Russian gymnasts dominated the competition, with
Gardiner the top placing non-Russian.Teammate Victoria Moors placed
15th AA.
Results: http://www.sportgymrus.ru/Admin/GetFile.ashx?get=1&id=1517
DECEMBER 17 - ELFI SCHLEGEL CARRIES 2010 OLYMPIC TORCH
 |
Elfi Schlegel carries 2010 Olympic
Torch
Photo courtesy of Elfi Schlegel
Canadian great Elfi Schlegel took part in the Vancouver 2010 torch
relay today, in Markham, Ontario.
The 1978 Commonwealth Games all-around champion, Schlegel was a member of
Canada's 1980 Olympic gymnastics team. Unfortunately, Schlegel and
her teammates were robbed of their opportunity to compete in Moscow, with
Canada joining many Western nations in boycotting the Games. That same year
she won a medal in World Cup competition.
Schlegel continued her gymnastics at
the University of Florida, and today is one of NBC's lead commentators for
gymnastics. Elfi and her sister own Schlegel's
Gymnastics.
DECEMBER 13 - VACULIK CLAIMS BARS AND FLOOR AT ELITE CANADA
Kristina Vaculik proved to be the most dominant gymnast today as
Elite Canada wrapped up with the apparatus finals. Vaculik claimed gold on
both bars and floor, sharing the latter with newly crowned Elite Canada
all-around champ Dominique Pegg. Not surprisingly, vault was won by Brittany
Rogers, who debuted a double twisting Yurchenko at World Championships in
October. Madeline Gardiner claimed the beam title.
In the junior women's field, Briannah Tsang claimed the title on
both vault and floor. Newly crowned junior Elite Canada champ Riley Cholod
claimed the victory on beam, and Stefanie Merkle topped the field on
floor.
Results: Junior
EF, Senior
EF
DECEMBER 13 - TOYOTA CUP CONCLUDES
Sunday saw the close of the Toyota Cup in Japan, with the second day of
apparatus finals. Ken Ikeda competed a full program today, finishing
fifth on vault (15.012), 11th on parallel bars (12.550), and 6th on high bar
(14.075). The host nation dominated today, winning five of nine medals
including golds on vault (Eiichi Sekiguchi) and high bar (Takuya Nakase).
DECEMBER 12 - LUKENCHUK PLACES 12TH AT LIUKIN INVITATIONAL
Jayd Lukenchuk led the Canadian contingent at today's Liukin
Invitational, placing 12th AA. Hugh Smith finished 16th AA, with Jason
placing 29th.
DECEMBER 12 - IKEDA 5TH ON POMMELS AT TOYOTA CUP
Ken Ikeda placed fifth today on pommels at the Toyota Cup in Japan.
China's Zhang Hongtao won the apparatus, with Prashanth Sellathurai (AUS) and
Krisztian Berki (HUN) finishing second and third, respectively.
| Pommel Horse Final |
D Panel |
E Panel |
ND |
Score |
| 1. |
Zhang Hongtao |
6.6 |
9.650 |
|
16.250 |
| 2. |
Prashanth Sellathurai |
6.7 |
9.200 |
|
15.900 |
| 3. |
Krisztian Berki |
6.6 |
8.800 |
|
15.400 |
| 4. |
Sebastian Krimmer |
5.8 |
9.050 |
|
14.850 |
| 5. |
Ken Ikeda |
5.9 |
8.650 |
|
14.550 |
| 6. |
Kamil Hulboj |
5.2 |
8.850 |
|
14.050 |
| 7. |
Kohei Uchimura |
6.3 |
7.475 |
|
13.775 |
DECEMBER 12 - CHOLOD WINS JUNIOR ELITE CANADA
Riley Cholod of Gemini Gymnastics convincingly won the junior
all-around title at today's Elite Canada, almost two full points ahead of
Oakville's Bianca Jordaan. Third went to Briannah Tsang of Omega
Gymnastics.
Results: http://gym-score-depot.ca/elite_canada_2009_wag/day1_junior.pdf
Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/danafan1
DECEMBER 11 - PEGG WINS ELITE CANADA
Dominique Pegg took top honours at today's Elite Canada in Oakville,
Ontario. The win caps off a remarkable comeback year for Pegg, who returned to
competition at the 2009 Canadian National Championships after only limited
training following a foot injury. She finished third at those Championships.
In September she competed at the prestigious 2009 Japan Junior International,
narrowly missing a bronze on floor. Last month she won two medals at the 2009
Junior Pan Am Championships.
Kristina Vaculik, who has two senior Elite Canada titles under her belt,
picked up the silver today. This was a successful comeback to national
competition for Vaculik, following a long rehab on an elbow injury sustained
while attempting to qualify to the 2008 Olympics. Vaculik goes into the 2010
season with a new floor routine.
Bronze went to Charlotte Mackie, who competed
in her first World Championships in late October. Mackie, who moved with coach
David Kenwright and teammates from Surrey Gymnastics to Club Aviva, is
qualified to all four apparatus finals Sunday.
Fourth place went to Brittany Rogers, Canada's highest finisher at
the recent World Championships. Rogers topped the field on vault, but
struggled to place higher than 8th on the remaining apparatus.
Fifth place went to 2008 Olympic veteran Nansy Damianova, also
returning to national competition following a long break.
Results: http://gym-score-depot.ca/elite_canada_2009_wag/day1_senior.pdf
Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/danafan1
NOVEMBER 15 - TORONTO TO HOST 2015 PAN AM GAMES
Toronto easily won today's competition for host city of the 2015 Pan Am
Games. Gymnastics is scheduled to be held at the Ricoh Coliseum. http://www.toronto2015.org/lang/en/about/venue_plan
NOVEMBER 14 - KLARENBACH PLACES 5TH ON VAULT AT DTB CUP
Kristin Klarenbach came close to a medal today at the 2009 DTB Cup, in
Stuttgart, Germany. Klarenbach was the first reserve after qualifications and
was called to compete after Belgium's Aajge van Walleghem withdrew with the
flu. "We know that there is always a possibility of someone withdrawing
after qualifications...we told Kristin to get ready to compete and be ready to
face a last minute substitution. And that's exact what happened,"
Kristin's coach Val?e Oudin recalled.
Kristin scored an average 13.412, improving her score from qualification and finishing a mere .313 from a
medal. "She competed her new vault [Yurchenko layout 1/2] for a second time and
under much more pressure than qualification, making her performance that much
more satisfying. She had been a little disappointed after Day #1, so she
wasn't going to let this opportunity slide by," related Val?e Oudin.
"This is a very good step in the right
direction for Kristin. Although I stayed back in Edmonton for this one, I can
just picture Kristin's level of energy and adrenaline on this event, her
favorite. It was a bad day for the beat-board ! My other athletes had been on
Facebook with Kristin and they told me that she was starting to feel better
from that Flu and cold she had all last week. I am proud of her for seizing
the opportunity and making her World Cup debut a good one," said Michel
Arsenault from Edmonton.
Next up for Klarenbach is Elite Canada, scheduled for Oakville, ON the
weekend of December 10-13.
Watch Kristin's vaults
from Stuttgart!
NOVEMBER 9 - PEGG AND UNICK MEDAL AT JUNIOR PAN AMS
Canada picked up two bronze medals in the apparatus finals today, at the
2009 Junior Pan Ams in Aracaju, Brazil. Dominique Pegg won a bronze
medal in the vault final, and Anysia Unick matched the result with a bronze on
bars. Pegg also finished 8th on beam and fourth on floor. Unick rounded out
her competition placing 6th on vault and bars, and 5th on floor.
In the men's field,Jaylan Birl finished 5th on floor, 8th on rings,
and 6th on vault. Robert Watson finished 7th on floor, 6th on rings,
and 5th on high bar. Ian Galvan finished 8th on vault and rings, and Tariq
Dowers (originally a reserve) finished 8th on pommels.
Results:
Women's
results from Junior Pan Ams
Men's
results from Junior Pan Ams
NOVEMBER 7 - CANADA WINS TEAM SILVER AT JUNIOR PAN AMS
A strong trio of Canadians led by Junior Pan Am veteran Dominique Pegg
won the silver medal in today's team event at the Junior Pan Ams in Aracaju,
Brazil. The USA dominated the competition, finishing with team gold and
sweeping the all-around podium. Bronze went to the home team, Brazil.
Individually, Pegg finished 6th AA and has qualified to the vault, beam and
floor exercises. She won vault at the previous Junior Pan Ams. Anysia Unick
placed 7th AA and has qualified to all four event apparatus. Rounding out the
team was Madeline Gardiner, who finished in 11th position.
In previous competition Canada's men's team (Robert Watson, Ian Galvan,
Jaylan Birl, Tariq Dowers) finished fourth, just missing the podium.
Watson ranked 8th in the AA, with Birl 9th AA. All four continue to the
apparatus finals: Watson (rings, floor, and high bar), Birl (floor and vault
finals), Galvan (rings and vault), and Dowers (pommels).
Perhaps most importantly from these Games, Canada qualified spots in both
the men's and women's competitions at the inaugural Youth Olympics, scheduled
for Singapore 2010.
Results:
Women's
results from Junior Pan Ams
Men's
results from Junior Pan Ams
NOVEMBER 6 - OSIJEK WORLD CUP
Cynthia Lemieux and Laurie-Eve Pepin-Gagne competed in
the apparatus finals at a World Cup event today in Osijek, Croatia. Lemieux
finished 8th on vault, and scratched from the bar final (she'd qualified in
8th place). Pepin-Gagne, who qualified in second position, faltered in the
final and finished in 8th.
NOVEMBER 3 - ADAM WONG RETIRES
Two-time Olympian Adam Wong announced his retirement today. In
addition to his performances in Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008), Adam turned
in golden performances at the 2006 Commonwealth Games (team, floor). At the
2006 World Championships he and his teammates turned in Canada's best ever
team effort, finishing fourth in prelims and sixth in team finals.
Individually he ranked 9th all-around - Canada's best ever finish in the
all-around.
Wong missed most of the 2007 season, rehabbing a torn Achilles
suffered while training floor in Greece. He returned to competition in 2008
winning his seventh Canadian Nationals title (third as a senior) and finished
15th in the all-around at the Beijing Olympics. Much of his time following
these recent Olympics were spent focusing on his academics, and he recently
competed a Bachelor's in Engineering.
Wong's last competition was the
2009 Canadian Nationals, where he competed (and medalled) on the two events he
competed: 2nd FX, 3rd PH. He tells Alberta
Gymnastics that it's time he focused on his professional goals:
After much deliberation, I have decided to realize and put focus
towards my professional goals outside of the sport. After reviewing the 2010
schedule, it is clear that I will not be able to dedicate myself to the
men?s national team in a capacity I personally deem acceptable, while
simultaneously pursuing my professional and personal ambitions.
It was a genuine pleasure and true honor to represent the Canadian
team for so many years. The opportunities I have been afforded can be
classified as nothing other than once-in-a-lifetime, and I will always
cherish these moments. To have been able to work with so many skilled
athletes and coaches is a luxury that I have not taken for granted.
Gymnastics Canada has expressed nothing but support and encouragement
towards my coaches, family, and myself throughout my career; statements that
reflect an exemplary association, one that I was never less than proud to
represent. I will undoubtedly miss many aspects of the sport, and this
decision was by no means an easy one to make.
Good luck, Adam...and thank you!
NOVEMBER 3 - COMPETITION GETS UNDERWAY IN BRAZIL
The 2009 Junior Pan Am Games begin this week in Brazil. Canada is fielding
a strong team consisting of Anysia Unick, Dominique Pegg, Rochelle Hurt, and
Madeleine Gardiner. The foursome represented Canada in the junior portion
of the Gymnix event held earlier this year.
This year's Junior Pan Ams holds
newfound significance, with the top all-arounders qualifying spots
for their country at next year's inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. Only WAG born in 1995 are eligible to compete at next year's Youth Olympic
Games, and the top six 1995-born athletes after taking into account one per
country, qualify to the Youth Olympic Games from these Junior Pan Ams.
Gardiner and Hurt are both born in 1995, so are vying to earn a spot for
Canada.
NOVEMBER 1 - LEMIEUX, SANDY FINISH 11th AT SWISS CUP
Canada's Cynthia Lemieux and Casey Sandy competed today at
the Swiss Cup, a mixed pairs event. Teams are cut after the second and third
rotations, with the top teams battling it out in rotation four for top honours.
Team Canada finished 11th, their competition ending after the second
rotation. The two German teams (Kim Bui/Mattias Fahrig, Elisabeth Seitz/Thomas
Taranu) topped the podium, with the Swiss home team (Ariella Kaeslin, Nikki
Boschenstein) finishing third.
Lemieux's European competition is not yet over; She competes Friday in
Croatia at a World Cup event.
Full Results: http://www.swiss-cup.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/swisscupch/dokumente/ranglisten/Rangliste_Swisscup_2009.pdf
Videos:
