GYMNASTICS CANADA NOMINATES 13 ATHLETES TO THE GLASGOW 2014 CANADIAN TEAM

Olympic veterans Ellie Black, Victoria Moors, Nathan Gafuik set to lead Canadian gymnasts to Commonwealth Games podium.

OTTAWA – Gymnastics Canada and Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) today confirmed the athletes and coaches to be named to Team Canada for the XXth Glasgow Scotland this July.

Anchoring the Canadian women’s artistic gymnastics squad are 2012 Olympic veterans Ellie Black and Victoria Moors, while two-time Olympian Nathan Gafuik leads the men’s squad. Black and Moors played key roles in Canada’s best-ever 5th place team finish at the London Olympic Games and rank among the world’s best gymnasts all around and in the floor exercise. Gafuik, a mainstay on the Canadian men’s team for a decade, won three medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, including team gold.

Among the other top contenders on the men’s team are Anderson Loran of Saskatoon, a silver medalist on high bar at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and Scott Morgan, ranked eighth in the floor exercise at the 2013 world championships.

Canada’s rhythmic gymnastics team is led by two-time Canadian senior champion Patricia, Bezzoubenko, who will be making her first appearance at the Commonwealth Games. In her most recent international competition, Bezzoubenko won the all around title at the 2014 Pacific Rim Championships in April.

“The 2014 Canadian Team is pleased to welcome the thirteen gymnasts announced today”, said Chantal Petitclerc, Chef de Mission of the Canadian Team in Glasgow. “I have witnessed tremendous results by gymnasts at the Commonwealth Games I have attended in the past, and I know that this 2014 edition will be contending for the podium in Glasgow.“Canada has a long tradition of success in gymnastics at the Commonwealth Games and we expect that to continue this summer in Glasgow,” says Gymnastics Canada team leader Cathy Haines. “We are expecting to be ranked top three in the team events in all disciplines as well as challenging for medals across the board in individual competitions in both artistic and rhythmic gymnastics.”

Athletes and coaches were nominated by Gymnastics Canada to Team Canada for the 2014 Commonwealth Games using a comprehensive selection process, including results from the 2014 Canadian Gymnastics Championships.

Nominated athletes and coaches:

Artistic Gymnastics - Women
Ellie Black, 19, Halifax, NS - Two-time Canadian all around senior champion, eighth on floor and
13th all around at 2013 World Championships
Maegan Chant, 17, Waterdown, ON - silver medallist on vault and floor at 2014 Canadian Championships, member of 2013 world championship team.
Victoria Moors, 18, Cambridge, ON - Canadian record holder for best-ever all around world championship result (10th - Antwerp, Belgium, 2013).
Isabela Onyshko, 16, Minnedosa, MB - third all around and first on beam at the 2014 Canadian Championships.

Stefanie Merkle, 18, Petersburg, ON - bronze medal winner on beam and floor at 2014 Canadian Championships.

Artistic Gymnastics - Men
Nathan Gafuik, 29, Calgary, AB - member of Canada’s best-ever men’s world championship team result (6th, 2006, Aarhus, Denmark), competed at 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.
Scott Morgan, 25, Vancouver, BC - 2014 Canadian floor and vault champion, led Canadian men’s team at 2013 World Championships with 8th place on floor.
Anderson Loran, 23, Saskatoon, SK - won silver on high bar for best Canadian result of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, silver medallist on floor and high bar at 2014 Canadian Championships.
Kevin Lytwyn, 24, Stoney Creek, ON - member of the 2009, 2010, 2011 world championship teams, top events are high bar, rings and floor.
Zachary Clay, 19, Chilliwack, BC - first on pommel horse and second on parallel bars at 2014 Canadian Championships.

Rhythmic Gymnastics
Patricia Bezzoubenko, 17, Thornhill, ON - Three-time Canadian junior all around champion and two-time senior champion. Placed 25th, just one spot out of the final, at 2013 World Championships.
Maria Kitkarska, 19, Montreal, QC - second all around at 2014 Canadian Championships, 11th all around at 2010 Youth Olympic Games.
Annabelle Kovacs, 18, Vancouver, BC - Third all around at 2014 Canadian Championships. One of two Canadians, along with Patricia Bezzoubenko, to qualify for 2013 World Championships.

Coaches
Jason Woodnick, Calgary, AB - men’s artistic team coach
Valentin Stan, Vancouver, BC - men’s artistic team coach
David Kikuchi, Halifax, NS - women’s artistic team coach
Elvira Saadi, Cambridge, ON - women’s artistic team coach
Tony Smith, Cochrane, AB - men’s artistic national team director
Dave Brubaker, Sarnia, ON - women’s artistic national team director
Svetlana Joukova, Thornhill, ON - rhythmic gymnastics team coach

“Congratulations to these remarkable gymnasts who have given their all to compete at the Commonwealth Games,” said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport). “Their hard work has paid off and we look forward to seeing them represent Canada this summer in Glasgow.”

A team of 265 athletes and close to 100 coaches and support staff will be in Glasgow, Canada’s largest Team ever fielded for a non-home Games. The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will be held from July 23rd will be the largest ever multi-sport event held on Scottish soil.

ABOUT GYMNASTICS CANADA

Gymnastics Canada is the National sport organization responsible for the governance,development and promotion of Gymnastics in Canada. Gymnastics Canada plays a leading role in the enhancement and delivery of an optimal training and competitive environment for consistent top 8 international performances and podium results in 4 Olympic disciplines- Men’s Artistic Gymnastics, Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, and Trampoline Gymnastics. Visit www.gymcan.org for information.

ABOUT COMMONWEALTH GAMES CANADA

Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is the international franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth movement in Canada, and an active, contributing member of the Canadian sport community. The mission of CGC is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a development tool. Visit www.commonwealthgames.ca for information.

For interview requests:
Ron Scammell
Communications Consultant
Gymnastics Canada
613 298 9196
ronscammell@yahoo.com

For additional information on the Glasgow 2014 Canadian Team or CGC:
Sylvie Bigras
Communications Chief
Team Canada - Glasgow 2014
613 298 1625
sylvie@magma.ca
@cgc_jcc #GlasgowCanadaGo #Glasgow2014