Mountain Shadows Gymnastics athletes are peaking at the right time.
Six members of the Okotoks gymnastics club combined for 12 provincial gold medals from the Alberta Gymnastics Provincial Championships and Alberta Xcel and Compulsory Championships to put a bow on the competitive season.
Emily Duncan collected gold at provincial championships in Fort McMurray, scoring the best in the all-around, bars, beam and floor.
“I’m really proud of my floor,” she said. “Because I got the highest score (9.7) I’ve ever received on any event, and I stuck all of my landings.
“It was peaking at the right time, gradually getting better as the season goes on and my coaches.”
Floria Lim scored three gold at the provincials, climbing to the top of the podium in the all-around, vault and beam.
“For vault, I was pretty excited, but wasn’t nervous because it’s my favourite event and my best event,” she said. “And it was the best event that I did well on and it was really powerful.”
Reese Fischer, a provincial veteran, won gold in the vault event, attributing her success to the support around her.
“Vault has always been one of my best events,” she said. “And I think what helped me was seeing my teammates when they cheered for me.”
Reese Harris, a graduating member of the club off to Mount Royal University, went out on a high note with a gold in an event that’s not always been a favourite.
“It’s a great achievement for me because I’ve always struggled with beam,” Harris said. “It’s great that I got to overcome that fear, especially in my last year of gymnastics.
“I think it was just the motivation as the last chance to get my name on the banner.”
Nora Campbell doubled down on gold in the vault and bars and was also second in the all-around in her first official opportunity to compete in all competitions at provincials.
“On bars, I worked really hard because I love it a lot,” Campbell said. “For vault, I got to use all of my energy, and it just make me very happy.”
Katie Weber struck gold in the bars event, notching a personal best of 9.775, in her first provincial.
“I was just remembering what my coach said, to always try my best and have fun,” she said.
Mountain Shadows’ Kristin Provost also took home the bronze in the all-around event at the Alberta Xcel and Compulsory Championships.
As competition season winds down, Mountain Shadows is set for its annual showcase and the largest competition of its kind in Alberta gymnastics.
The Mountain Magic Invitational returns to the Okotoks Recreation Centre from May 1-4 with over 900 athletes set to compete.
One of the defining attributes of the MMI is its team competition, something seen at the collegiate level, but rarely in Canada.
The volunteer effort to put on the event is fantastic from the parent group with the athletes also lending a hand when not competing during the four-day showcase, said Jim McLuskey, Mountain Shadows’ owner and head coach.
“It’s been around almost as long as the club has been. I believe we started the meet off at 150 so it’s grown to be the largest meet in Alberta now,” he said.
“We’re very proud of it, the parents put a great deal of time into it because our rule is if we’re going to do something this big then we’re going to do every section of it well. Whether it’s the food, the awards, everything is just top of the line, and I think that’s why we draw 900 kids.”
For more information on the club, visit its website.
