gymnasts Damianova, Hopfner-Hibbs to Olympics

The rumours were true.

Canadian gymnasts Nansy Damianova of Montreal and Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs of Toronto are bound for Beijing.

The two were deemed the country’s top two female gymnasts at the conclusion of the Canadian championship Saturday and punched their tickets to the 2008 Olympics in August.

The Canadian men’s team of six gymnasts for Beijing has yet to be finalized.

Damianova, 17, and Hopfner-Hibbs, 18, were ranked first and second respectively after Saturday’s event finals.

Points accumulated at both national championships and in their international competitions counted towards qualifying for the Olympics.

“I’m really, really happy because it has been a long year and we’ve travelled a lot this year,” Damianova said. “Nationals was our last meet before the Olympics. I’m glad it finished with a happy ending.”

… Damianova tied for first on the vault and was second on the uneven bars to overtake Hopfner-Hibbs Saturday in the overall rankings.

Hopfner-Hibbs was third on both the bars and beam Saturday, but she’d also won the all-around title Thursday and that helped her nail down the second Olympic berth.

Gymnastics Canada will send Damianova’s coach Katerine Dussault with her to Beijing because Damianova is the country’s top-ranked female gymnast.

Hopfner-Hibbs was disappointed to finish second because she wanted to also secure a trip to Beijing for her coach Carol-Angela Orchard.

“The Olympics, I’m going, and that’s outstanding, but it’s bittersweet,” Hopfner-Hibbs said.

“I know Carol-Angela can come to Beijing, but I don’t know if she’s going to or how many training sessions she can come to. It’s hard because she’s the reason I’m here.” …

CANADIAN PRESS – via Gymbrooke Sports News

I’ve yet to speak to one coach who thinks this is the correct ranking of the Olympians. The points system was flawed.

2008 Canadian Championships
June 7, Calgary

Senior Women’s Vault
1. Nansy Damianova (Gymnix, QC) 14.050
1. Kristina Vaculik (Gemini, ON) 14.050
3. Charlotte Mackie (Omega, BC) 14.000

Senior Uneven Bars
1. Kristina Vaculik (Gemini, ON) 15.600
2. Nansy Damianova (Gymnix, QC) 14.900
3. Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs (Sport Seneca, ON) 14.600

Senior Balance Beam
1. Peng-Peng Lee (Sport Seneca, ON) 15.850
2. Kristina Vaculik (Gemini, ON) 15.500
3. Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs (Sport Seneca, ON) 14.950

Senior Women’s Floor Exercise
1. Peng-Peng Lee (Sport Seneca, ON) 14.900
2. Kristina Vaculik (Gemini, ON) 14.800
3. Sydney Sawa (CGC, AB) 14.700