Gymnastics Canada – OTTAWA, ON (April 11, 2016) – Gymnastics Canada is pleased to announce the names of the athletes, coaches, and judges nominated to participate in the Aquece Rio Test event from April 16-22, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This is the last chance to qualify for the Olympic Games for our men’s artistic gymnastics team, men’s trampoline, and rhythmic gymnastics. Canada has already qualified a team for women’s artistic gymnastics and 1 individual in women’s trampoline.

Only athletes that placed high enough at their respective World Championships last fall have earned the opportunity to advance to this competition. Two athletes from women’s artistic gymnastics will also compete at this event to gain more international experience.

MEN’S ARTISTIC (MAG): “The team’s goals for this event are to perform exceptionally clean routines focusing on the best execution possible and sticking their dismounts,” said Tony Smith, National Team Director for men’s artistic gymnastics at Gymnastics Canada. “The loss of Kevin Lytwyn and Mathieu Csukassy to injuries were huge hits to our difficulty level, and can only be made up by perfecting our execution. The team has spent a great deal of time on landings, and it’s my expectation that we can count on significantly higher ‘E’ scores at the Test Event then we had at World Championships.”

To qualify: The team will need to finish in the top-4 to qualify for Rio. There is also a chance of qualifying one individual if the team does not rank top-4.

RHYTHMIC (RG): “Patricia has all the tools to succeed and is an outstanding athlete in a very challenging sport,” said Teresa Orr, National Team Director for rhythmic gymnastics at Gymnastics Canada. “Her goal at the test event will be to hit clean routines with all four apparatus. If she does this, she will have an excellent chance of qualifying for the Olympic Games.”

To qualify: Patricia will need to finish in the top-6 at this event to qualify for Rio. Maximum one athlete per country within that top-6.

TRAMPOLINE (TG): “Jason’s confidence level is very high despite knowing that it will be harder to get a place than it was four years ago,” said Stephan Duchesne, High Performance Director for trampoline gymnastics at Gymnastics Canada. “In 2012, there was only one country that didn’t earn a place at the Olympics from the Test Event. This time around, Jason will have to beat at least three countries. That said, the entire team that has been working hard with Jason to prepare for this event is confident that he will be able to secure a place for Canada and to compete for a third time at the Olympic Games.”

To qualify: Jason must finish in the top-5 at this event to qualify for Rio. Maximum one athlete per country within that top-5.

Who: 11 athletes, 8 coaches, and 3 judges
What: Aquece Rio Test Event
Where: Rio Olympic Arena
When:

• MAG Team: April 16 
• WAG Individual: April 17 
• MAG & WAG Event Finals: April 18 
• TG: April 19 
• RG: April 21 

Website: http://www.aquecerio.com/en/gymnastics/

Social: #RIOTestEvent

THE TEAMS:

MEN’S ARTISTIC

• Rene Cournoyer, Repentigny, QC – Club Gymnika 
• Scott Morgan, Vancouver, BC – Flicka Gymnastics Club 
• Anderson Loran, Saskatoon, SK – Taiso Gymnastics 
• Hugh Smith, Dartmouth, NS – Halifax Alta Gymnastics Club 
• Jackson Payne, Edmonton, AB – Capital City Gymnastics 
• Ken Ikeda, Abbotsford, BC – Twisters Gymnastics Club 
• Sam Zakutney, Ottawa, ON – Ottawa Gym Centre 

Team coaches:

• Tony Smith – National Team Director, Calgary, AB 
• Vali Stan, Vancouver, BC 
• Richard Ikeda, Abbotsford, BC 

Judge:

• Jeff Thomson, Vancouver, BC 

WOMEN’S ARTISTIC

• Isabela Onyshko, Brandon, MB – Brandon Eagles Gymnastics 
• Victoria-Kayen Woo, Brossard, QC – Gym-Richelieu 

Team coaches:

• Dave Brubaker – Head of Delegation, Sarnia, ON 
• Joe Stouffer, Brandon, MB 
• Michel Charron, Brossard, QC 

Judge:

• Gord Bennett, Vancouver, BC 

RHYTHMIC

• Patricia Bezzoubenko, Toronto, ON – Salut RG 

Team coaches:

• Svetlana Joukova, Toronto, ON 

TRAMPOLINE

• Jason Burnett, King Township, ON – Skyriders Trampoline 

Team coaches:

• Ken Soehn, Red Deer, AB 

Judge:

• Thorne Sutherland, Lunenberg, NS 

COMPETITION SCHEDULE: http://www.aquecerio.com/en/gymnastics/spectator-information

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

-30- 

For more information, contact:

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