Gymnastics Canada – GATINEAU, QC (June 29, 2016) – After years of training, competing, and dreaming, Ellie Black of Halifax, NS, Isabela Onyhsko of Brandon, MB, and Brittany Rogers of Coquitlam, BC (training in Calgary, AB) punched their tickets to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio after the second day of the Rio Selection Camp on Wednesday in Gatineau, QC.

The three athletes were nominated to the team based on points they had accumulated at several competitions over the last few months, including the 2015 World Championships, 2016 Canadian Championships, 2016 Elite Canada, and this selection camp. In fact, Black and Onyshko had accumulated so many points after the first day of competition at the camp that their coaches elected to pull them from Wednesday’s competition in the best interests of their health for the long-term.

“We wanted to wait until after the first day to see how that went, and then we knew that Isabela had accumulated enough points and we didn’t want to risk injury with things that have been nagging,” said Onyshko’s coach Lorie Henderson. “Isabela has no off button, and she’ll keep going until she kills herself because she just wants it that badly, so sometimes we have to pull the plug. We’ve never done it before, and I don’t think we’ll ever do it again!”

Rogers was left to battle it out with the other 8 gymnasts vying for spots, and she didn’t disappoint, coming up huge on the uneven bars with a score of 14.800 to finish first all-around, solidifying her amongst the top-3.

“I had so many emotions bottled up and after I finished that bars routine, it just all came out. I knew as soon as I landed that bar routine that I had a really good shot at making my second Olympics and that’s a dream come true. It’s not very common for someone from NCAA gymnastics to five weeks later make an Olympic team, so that in itself is an accomplishment and my ultimate goal so I’m very proud of myself,” said Rogers who was an NCAA champion on bars this year with the University of Georgia Gymdogs.

The decision as to who will get the nod for the last two spots now lies with a selection committee who will be looking at a number of factors to determine which athletes will be the best fit for the team. Those two athletes will be named with the rest of Canada’s gymnastics team for Rio at a Team Announcement ceremony at the Gatineau Sports Centre on Thursday at 11:00 AM ET.

RESULTS: http://www.sportzsoft.com/meet/meetWeb.dll/MeetResults?SessionId=41505551588321&gotoTab=Z

ABOUT GYMNASTICS CANADA

First established in 1969, Gymnastics Canada is the national governing body for the sport of gymnastics in Canada. Gymnastics Canada works closely with the twelve Provincial Federations and the 700 local clubs to provide a broad range of programs and services to meet the needs of all participants. From athlete development, to coaching and judging education, Gymnastics Canada sets the operating standards and practices for the sport in Canada. Our mandate is to promote and provide positive and diverse gymnastics experience through the delivery of quality and safe gymnastics programming. Visit www.gymcan.org for more information, or follow us @CDNgymnastics.

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For more information, contact:

Julie Forget
Director, Communications and Marketing
Gymnastics Canada
Cell: 819.210.2064
Email: jforget@gymcan.org