Gymnastics Canada – BOGOTA, COL (December 4, 2016) – Team Canada dominated the competition on the final day at the 2016 Pan American Trampoline Gymnastics Championships winning seven gold medals out of a possible ten. The team also secured four silver and two bronze medals. 

Sophiane Méthot (La Prairie, QC) led the team, winning three gold medals including individual trampoline, synchronized trampoline with Sarah Milette (Longueuil, QC) and team trampoline with Milette and Rachel Tam (Toronto, ON). “Moving from Junior to Senior this year, I attended a few of the events on the World Cup circuit, continuously improving,” said Méthot. “Winning gold [in all events] was an amazing experience and will really motivate me forward for 2017 and the future.”

In the women’s individual trampoline final, it was Milette who finished less than two points back of Méthot to win the silver medal. Canada also had double podium finishes at the championship in 2012 and 2014.

The men’s individual trampoline final saw Nathan Shuh (Elmira, ON) and Jean-Christophe Martel (Terrebonne, QC) finish fifth and sixth overall in their first senior international competition. In the team event, Martel and Shuh were joined by Keegan Soehn (Red Deer, AB) and captured the bronze medal.

Canadian tumblers had a stellar day, with both men and women finishing first and second in both finals. Jon Schwaiger (Ancaster, ON) finished more than four points ahead of second place, with a score of 69.500 to win the gold medal. Michael Chaves (Mississauga, ON) deviated from centre on his second pass, but his overall solid performance helped him score 65.400 and repeat his 2014 silver medal victory.

Raphaëlle Villotte (Montreal, QC) had two really solid passes in her tumbling routines and finished with 60.600 points to win gold. Teammate Nora Abouraja (Montreal, QC) gave it her all in her first senior international competition and final to take home the silver medal. “It was great to see our team be the class if the field at this competition,” said tumbling team coach, Denis Vachon. “It’s definitely a positive step forward for next season’s World Cups, World Championships and most importantly, World Games.”

In the double mini-trampoline (DMT), Schwaiger completed a triff, triple backflip, for the first time in competition and finished with 72.600 points and the silver medal. Mark Armstrong (Red Deer, AB) stuck his routines well and finished in sixth place overall. In the men’s team event, Schwaiger and Armstrong were joined by Martel and were the only country to complete all passes, finishing almost 35 points ahead of second place with a score of 106.400 the gold medal.

In the women’s DMT, Arden Oh (Calgary, AB) had two great passes and scored 65.100 points to finish in a tie with Argentina’s Mara Colombo for the gold medal. Tamara O’Brien (Coquitlam, BC) finished just .300 points back of Oh to capture the bronze medal. Jordyn Miller-Burko (Toronto, ON) joined Oh and O’Brien in the DMT team event where they scored 103.500 points and finished well ahead of the second place team to win the gold medal.

“The 2016 Senior Pan American Championships were a great competition for Canada, in terms of both our results and development,” said Stephan Duchesne, High Performance Director for trampoline gymnastics at Gymnastics Canada. “All of our gymnasts performed to the best of their abilities en route to individual and team medals for the country, continuing the history of success at the championship! Silver medalist in the women’s tumbling routine, Nora Abouraja and eight other gymnasts made their international debut at the senior level, so it was a great opportunity for them to compete at a high level and prepare towards 2017 and beyond.”

For full results from the 2016 Pan American Trampoline Gymnastics Championships, visit: http://gymcan.org/disciplines/trampoline/results

 

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