Gymnastics Canada – MARKHAM, ON (Jan 25, 2018) – Media are invited to attend the 2018 Elite Canada in Rhythmic Gymnastics competition running from Thursday, February 1 to Sunday, February 4, 2018 at the Markham Pan Am Centre in Markham, ON.
 
Hosted by Glimmer Athletics Club and Excellence RG Club, Elite Canada brings together the top athletes from across Canada from the novice, junior, and senior categories in rhythmic gymnastics. Elite Canada is an annual event held to determine the top junior and senior rhythmic gymnasts in Canada who will go on to compete at the Canadian Championships in Richmond, BC in May.
 
This competition will also be used to name the teams that will represent Canada at the Pacific Rim and the Junior Pan American Championships which are both being held in Medellin, Colombia in late April and early May respectively. Three gymnasts born in 2003 will be selected for the Junior Pan American Championships team which is the Youth Olympic Games Qualifier for the America’s.
 
Elite Canada is also being used as part of the Commonwealth Games selection process. The three athletes that will represent Canada in rhythmic gymnastics at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, AUS will be publically announced on February 21^st.
 
WHAT: 2018 Elite Canada Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition
 
WHO:  

• Toronto-based national team members Michel Vivier, Natalie Garcia, and Izabella Helbin compete in the junior category; Athena Tsaltas, Vivienne Lee-Motkine, Diana Noskova and Sophie Crane compete in the senior category;
• 11 athletes from the local host clubs – Glimmer Athletic (9) and Excellence RG (2);
• 140 of Canada’s top rhythmic gymnasts, 36 coaches;
• 2017 Canadian Champion Carmen Whelan, and 2^nd ranked Senior Katherine Uchida will not be competing due to injury rehabilitation;
• There will be a short ceremony on Sunday at 4:15pm to honour the career of four-time Canadian senior champion Patricia Bezzoubenko who recently announced her retirement.

WHEN: Thursday, February 1^st to Sunday, February 4^th.  
 
Highlights (all times ET):
 
Thurs., Feb. 1: Training Day – best opportunity for B-roll and interviews
 
Fri., Feb. 2:         
@10:00 – Junior Hoop & Ball
@14:50 – Groups 1^st performance
@15:15 – Senior Hoop & Ball
 
Sat., Feb. 3:       
@09:00 – Junior Clubs & Ribbon
@13:50 – Groups 2^nd Performance
@14:35 – Senior Clubs & Ribbon
 
Sun., Feb. 4:      
@09:20 – Junior All-Around and Apparatus Finals
@12:00 – Group Finals – 1^st performance
@13:10 – Group Finals – 2^nd performance
@13:25 – Senior All-Around and Apparatus Finals
@16:15 – Awards
 
Click here for the complete schedule
         
Markham Pan Am Centre
16 Main St. Unionville
Markham, ON, L3R 2E4
 
LIVE STREAMING: http://gymcan.tv
 
LIVE RESULTS: http://bit.ly/RGEC2018_Results
 
MEDIA ACCREDITATION: Will be available on-site. Please consult our media guidelines before attending.
 

 
For more information, please contact:
 
Julie Parkins-Forget
Director, Communications & Marketing
Gymnastics Canada
(819)210-2064
jforget@gymcan.org
 
On-site:
 
Brihana Mosienko
Coordinator, Rhythmic Gymnastics
Gymnastics Canada
(613)558-0855
bmosienko@gymcan.org