FAIRBANKS, ALASKA
Bronze in the team event. It’s starting to become tradition for Yukon’s gymnastics team at the Arctic Winter Games.
Yukon captured bronze in the team competition at the Games on Tuesday. It’s the fifth Arctic Games in a row Yukon took bronze, beginning on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, in 2006.
“The team did really good,” said Yukon head coach Catherine O’Donovan. “Their vaults were gorgeous today, bars was solid - everyone showed really clean routines. Floor was the best floor I’ve ever seen them do; they really performed and stepped up today.
“We struggled a little bit on beam with a little bit of nerves and being the last group to compete. Beam is always the make-it-or-break-it event.”
Not only was it the fifth team bronze in a row, every time it’s come with Alberta North and Alaska on the higher tiers of the podium.
“We’re always striving to see if we can get above a bronze medal as a team,” said O’Donovan. “Alaska and Alberta are always really strong teams, so we’re always fighting to keep up with them.”
Yukon’s Anisa Albisser led her team on the floor with an 8.9 out of 10.
Sydney Cairns landed the hardest dismount of the competition - a flyaway full.
Spectators gasped at the power of Megan Banks’ vault, completing a handspring half.
Emily King, the team’s beam specialist, did not disappoint. “She stepped up as usual on the beam,” said O’Donovan. “She looks like she’s on a 10-foot wide beam instead of a four-inch wide beam.
“They all had their best event in a different event.”
All four Yukon gymnasts are competing in their first Arctic Games in gymnastics. They are all Level 3 gymnasts from the Polarettes Gymnastics Club in Whitehorse.
“It’s really fun ... the gymnasts are really nice,” said Albisser. “I like floor and I’m proud of myself for going for my round off back tuck on beam.
“I think we did really good.”
While gold-winning Alberta North and silver-winning Alaska traded firsts and seconds in the four disciplines, Yukon took thirds across the board.
N.W.T. finished fourth and Nunavut fifth in each event and overall.
“We’re going to look back on everything we did today and bring it forward to our individual competition on Thursday,” said O’Donovan.
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com