Entries from May 2010 ↓

Justin Karstadt, age-13, from Futures Gymnastics won the extremely competitive High Performance Argo division at the Canadian Championships.

Here’s my interview with Justin immediately after the meet. He hit 12 for 12. And stuck a lot of landings.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

That’s the rumour.

The 2009 Vault World Champion will Roll Tide.

From Twitter. Thanks Sher.

… nothing is official yet.

But everyone is wondering what’s happening with the first ever Youth Olympic Games. Only 1 male and 1 female gymnast / nation will compete.

Of the age eligible girls, Canada will most likely send Mikaela Gerber (left) or Madeline Gardiner (right), both born 1995.

Photos by Grace Chiu GraceClick.ca

It may be decided by coach availability. Injury is always a factor, too. Which of the girls will be in the best routine shape come August?

I’m not sure when the official announcement will be made.

I’m guessing our MAG gymnast will be Robert Watson from B.C.

Mikayla is sister of Aisha Gerber, now at UCLA.

Here’s the official press release from Gymnastics Canada:

Two-time Olympian Nathan Gafuik of Calgary and Kristina Vaculik of Whitby, Ont., won the men’s and women’s all around titles on Thursday at the Canadian gymnastics championships.

Gafuik, the men’s all around gold medal winner at the Pacific Rim Championships in Australia last month, kept up the momentum with a solid effort on all six apparatus to claim his first senior Canadian title.

“I didn’t have amazing routines on any event, nothing that really stood out,” said Gafuik who placed in the top three in all events and topped the field on pommel horse, vault and high bar for a winning score of 89.550 points. …

In the women’s all around, Vaculik capped her remarkable comeback from a career threatening injury with a top-three finish in all four routines for a winning score of 55.950 points. …

Madeleine Gardiner of Cambridge, Ont., was a close second at 55.100 and Dominique Pegg of Sarnia, Ont., placed third at 54.800.

Vaculik, who did not compete at last year’s Canadian championships, has been chalking up medals at home and abroad since returning to competition in December following a year-long rehab after surgery to correct a debilitating elbow ailment. …

read more – Gymnastics Canada – Gafuik and Vaculik win all around titles at Canadian Gymnastics Championships

From the Facebook album: 2010 Canadian Gymnastics Championships by Grace Chiu GraceClick.ca

Marceline Goldstein from Cirque du Soleil awarded prize money to the AA Gold Medalists and their coaches. Nathan’s coach, Tony Smith, promised to take his wife Lisa out to a nice dinner with the winnings. At least that’s the way I heard it.

Update: Gymnastics Examiner highlights with photos by Grace Chiu – Kristina Vaculik, Sabrina Gill, Nathan Gafuik win Canadian national titles

We’ve had an enquiry from journalist Fariha Karim wanting to do a photo story on Cirque in Bangladesh.

But I’m not aware of troupes or schools in that Nation.

Email if you know of any: farihak.bd-AT-gmail.com

Not mental gymnasts, note.

University of Nebraska Head Coach Dan Kendig is one of the good guys. And one of the best Head Coaches in the NCAA.

Here’s his Gymnastike interview – Mental Edge Monday:

Dan’s with us up at the Canadian Championships, as always. He’s a big booster. (And loves to recruit Canadians, one ingredient of a winning College team, it seems.)

Dan has been with Nebraska since 1993 and is a two-time National Coach of the Year (1999, 2003). Coach Kendig has led the Huskers to 12 NCAA Championships appearances and 9 Super Six Finals appearances.

1. Nathan Gafuik
2. Jackson Payne
3T. Hugh Smith
3T. Kevin Lytwyn

… Nashwan Haider al-Hazari, being coached by Jim Holt from Seattle and representing Yemen, is here as a guest competitor. Al-Hazari was the 2008 Olympic wildcard. …

Gymnastics Examiner

Nathan was named “International Gymnast of the Year” as well. His coach, Tony Smith, was honoured, as well.

1. Kristina Vaculik
2. Madeline Gardiner
3. Dominique Pegg
4. Jessica Savona
5. Bianca Dancose Giambattisto.

photo by Grace Chiu

Gymnastics Examiner – LIVE blog

Congratulations!

photo by Grace Chiu

watch my interview with Sabrina from earlier in the day

Gymnastics Examiner – LIVE blog

Damien Cachia (AB)
Kevin Hsiao (ON)
Gianmarco Mastrantoni (ON)

ONTARIO won the Team competition. Team Results (PDF).

Congratulations Damien, a late starting gymnast I’ve known for years. Congratulations to coach Miguel Constante and Damien’s first coach, Ed Vincent.

From the Facebook album: CC10-Fri Aft-Nat’l Youth Men Event Finals by Stu Cram

1. Jaylan Birl – ON – Mississauga
2. Robert Watson – BC – Richmond
3. Tariq Dowers – ON – Mississauga

full results (PDF)

Jaylan by Grace Chiu - GraceClick.ca

So am I. And I live here.

We change our regulations so often, it’s near impossible to keep up with who’s what where at the Canadian National Championships in Kamloops.

Happily, Blythe Lawrence, an American, clarified the chaos for me:

You know, Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in America anymore.

There are a few things you need to understand about the Canadian gymnastics system to fully comprehend the Canadian Championships …

get skooled – Live blog: 2010 Canadian Nationals, senior women’s all-around finals

photo by Stu Cram

Gymnastics Examiner has by far the best coverage of the action.

Actually, this is the best Nationals ever for online coverage. LIVE VIDEO STREAMING coverage starts tonight. I’ve got my fingers crossed the technology works.

My interview with “Savona”, ranked 4th AA in Senior qualification at the 2010 Canadian National Gymnastics Championships.

Look out. She’s back with a lot of new skills after missing a year due to ACL surgery.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

Gymnastics Videos on Gymnastike

… Oakville, Ont.’s Jessica Savona … won vault for her nailed 1.5 twisting Yurchenko (14.05) and was second on uneven bars after landing the only full-twisting double layout dismount of the competition (13.65). …

Gymnastics Examiner – LIVE BLOG – Senior Preliminaries