Glacier Gymnastics returned home with a massive medal haul after competing against some of the biggest gymnastics clubs in Canada and the United States.
Twenty-six gymnasts from the Nelson club competed at the Great West Gym Fest held in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Feb. 21 to 24. They brought back 47 medals and three team championships at this competition, which is one the best in the U.S. North West.
The competition hosted 1,400 gymnast from 43 of the biggest and best clubs from across the United States and Canada.
Head coach Sandra Long said that the Glacier team does better every year, this year taking home 11 all-around titles.
“This is a major accomplishment and big improvement for our club,” said Long. “Every season our gymnasts lift the bar higher in their technical abilities and confidence.”
The gymnasts competing in the Xcel Gold category brought home the first place team award, the Xcel Silver category won third place team and Glacier’s Junior Olympic Team won the sixth place team award.
Dafni van Hellemond won the prestigious honour of participating in the Finale Exhibition Show. Only 112 gymnasts out of all the competitors at the Great West Gym Fest were selected to participate in the Big Show.
Van Hellemond earned her spot by scoring a 9.1 for her dynamic vault in the Level 8 category.
“This is the second time one of our gymnasts has won an opportunity to participate in the show,” said Long. “It is a very special experience that is not available for most athletes. It is an experience of a lifetime.”
See below for Great West Gym Fest individual results:
Junior Olympic Level 6 Category
10-11 year olds: Anouk Prud’homme- Bronze All Around and Floor, Gold on Vault
11-12 year olds: Macy Loutit – Silver All Around, on Bars and Beam, Bronze on Floor
14 year olds: Tia Berens – Bronze on Floor
16 year olds: Elisa Clark – Silver on Beam
Junior Olympic Level 8 Category
14 year olds: Brianne Stefani – Gold on Floor, Bronze All Around and Vault
Dafni van Hellemond – Silver on Vault
EXCEL Silver Category
8-9 year olds: Anika Denkovski – Silver on Beam and Floor
9-10 year olds: Marin Smienk – Gold All Around and on Floor
Sarah Stew – Gold on Vault, Silver All Around on Beam and Floor
Annie van Hellemond – Silver on Vault, Bronze on Floor
10-12 year olds: Molly Anderson – Silver on Floor, Bronze All Around
Nina Usher – Silver on Bars
13 years & up: Fawn Herzig – Gold on Vault, Bronze All Around and on Beam
Gabriella Hurst – Silver on Vault
EXCEL Gold Category
9-11 year olds: Asia Szczepanski – Gold All Around and on Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor
Emerson Mandseth – Silver on Floor, Bronze All Around
Jersey Skolka – Silver on Vault, Bronze on Beam
12 year olds: Paityn Lake – Bronze All Around, Silver on Floor
14 year olds: Alexa Anast – Gold on Beam, Silver All Around and on Vault, Bronze on Bars
Ella Taylor – Gold on Vault and Floor