CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI -- The 2011 Canadian Championships are in the books, but the real work -- qualifying the men's and women's teams to the Olympic Games -- is just beginning.
Both teams have a much different look than they did in 2010, where the women's team finished 13th and the men's 14th at the World Championships. Both teams have been bolstered by experienced returners -- namely Brandon O'Neill, Casey Sandy, Brittany Rogers, Dominique Pegg and, although she did not compete in Charlottetown, Christine (Peng Peng) Lee. Provided they are healthy, all should be able to contribute much-needed leadership to the 2011 World teams.
Ten-year-old Shallon Olsen continued to be a delight to watch. Impressive as she was last year, she came to this championships with upgraded routines and is, despite her tender age, doing some of the most difficult gymnastics in the world. One can only hope that she can retain her joy and skill level as she grows older.
Young Jackson Payne has improved steadily during the past several years, and proved it by winning his first senior men's title. A number of eager young men's competitors emerged at this meet -- among them Scott Morgan, a talent from Flicka Gymnastics in British Columbia, as well as Saskatchewan's Jayd Lukenchuk, Anderson Loran, and new seniors Robert Watson and Tariq Dowers.
No summary of this event would be complete without a nod to the Cambridge Kips of Ontario, which produced both the women's senior and junior champions in Madeline Gardiner and Victoria Moors, coached by former Soviet great Elvira Saadi. Both are still young and full of potential. Quebec's Bianca Dancose-Giambattisto showed improvement on vault and floor
No question about it, the Canadians are deep.
Here are a few last video interviews from Charlottetown, as well as a few competition routines from event finals.
Competition routines:
-- Dominique Pegg on floor exercise
-- Open (16+) champion Jessica Dowling on bars (double double tuck dismount)
-- Open (16+) champion Jessica Dowling on beam (double double tuck dismount)
Interviews/profiles:
-- A CBC news piece on Prince Edward Island's own Scott Chandler, 35, now the oldest man ever to compete in a Canadian Championship
-- A few questions with Novice runner up Brianna Clark (Gymnix)
-- A few questions with Clark's teammate Ivy Lu (Gymnix)
-- A short interview with 2004 Olympian David Kikuchi, who competed in the men's open division (and did quite well there, too!)
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