For most acrobatic gymnasts, the greatest honour and highest goal is to qualify to represent their country at the Acrobatic Gymnastics World Age Group Competitions/Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships (Worlds) for Team Canada Acrobatics. Held every two years, the Worlds competition features the best acro gymnasts each participating country has to offer.  It is a huge accomplishment to be chosen for Worlds, and athletes train tirelessly year round with the hopes of achieving this ultimate recognition.  This year, for 20 acro gymnasts from Oakville Gymnastics Club, that dream came true.  In April, after months of intense preparation, excitement, and hard work, Acro Team Canada headed to Antwerp, Belgium to compete alongside the best in the sport.

With a record number of athletes this time around, Acro Team Canada sent a total of 28 gymnasts to Worlds, including 6 women’s trio’s, 3 women’s pairs, 1 mixed pair, and 1 men’s pair.  They competed at 3 different age group levels: 11-16, 12-18, and 13-19.  The teammates range in age from 10 to 18, and in many ways resemble siblings in one big family.  They look out for one another, dry each other’s tears, cheer each other on, celebrate victories together, and occasionally argue amongst themselves. They consider these friendships one of the best parts of being in acro and competing at Worlds, and they will no doubt share this bond for life.

The competition itself was spectacular.  When asked what stood out most about the experience, many of the athletes excitedly recalled the moment they first saw where they would be competing.  Kiana Wilson, a base in a 13-19 women’s trio said: “One of my favourite memories from Worlds was when we first walked in to the competition arena and looked at the floor that we would soon be competing on.  It was one of the most amazing things seeing how huge the stadium was and the gleaming lights shining down on it.”  Mila DiSalle, a top in an 11-16 mixed pair also conveyed how impressed she was by the stadium: “The best part was arriving for the first time at the venue and seeing how beautiful it was.  It was so big and the floor was lit up with all the lights, and there were so many flags from all the different countries.  It looked so cool!”

And when they finally stepped out onto the competition floor to perform their routines, the Canadian athletes shone as bright as the lights that dazzled them upon their arrival.  Two 11-16 pairs from OGC qualified for the finals, (mixed pair Theo Rots-Chan and Mila DiSalle, and men’s pair Max Hendershot and Kristian Diana), and many others just narrowly missed qualifying, but still gave some of their best performances to date. In addition to the OCG pairs, two groups from Calgary also qualified for finals: 11-16 women’s pair Ava Gokiert and Evelina Merkulov, and 12-18 women’s trio Lauren Bligh, Camile Calvo and Emma Carlton. Mixed pair Theo and Mila narrowly missed coming home with a Bronze medal, with only a .1 difference in score. The Canadian pride was felt throughout the venue – especially in the large, enthusiastic cheering section made up of the parents, siblings, grandparents, and other assorted friends and family of the Canadian athletes.  It was a sea of red and white celebrating the largest Canadian representation at any Worlds in the history of acrobatic gymnastics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coaches Scott Middleton and Greg Boosey are a huge part of this success, and prepare the athletes extraordinarily well to compete at an international level.  From creating winning partnerships, to choosing music and competition leotards, overseeing choreography, and of course the rigorous training and conditioning schedules they call for 6 days a week, 11 ½ months of the year.  Scott and Greg know what it takes to be the best in this sport, and they strongly encourage each and every athlete to reach their potential.  This high level of coaching has clearly paid off.  These gymnasts were ready in both body and mind to step into the spotlight and compete against the best acro gymnasts in the world.  I asked them if they get nervous before their routines and their thoughts were best summed up by Emma Shemko, a base in a 12-18 women’s trio.  She said: “There is nothing quite like the anxiety and the nerves you get right before stepping out into the spotlight and seeing the huge audience before you.” She added that although it can be stressful, it is the best kind of stress there is.

To say this was an incredible experience for these athletes is an understatement.  Aside from the myriad of life lessons they learned along the way, the friendships and connections with fellow gymnasts from around the world have given them new perspectives and expanded horizons.  Forever changed by this adventure, they take away an education that could never be taught in a classroom, and memories that will last a lifetime.

 

Written by Carol Summers