It was surreal for Hannah Patterson of FitKidz Gymnastics to win the junior Olympic 6 group.
“It’s so exciting and I was surprised,” said Patterson, competing in her third provincial championship. “Last year I was second. I was going for first, but I didn’t think it would happen. There were so many people there.”
The Langley Events Centre, where the provincials were held over the weekend, was filled with strong gymnasts as Patterson said it was hard. She was honoured to compete against so many girls and watched the older athletes compete, describing it as breathtaking.
Patterson claimed first overall by scoring 9.625 out of 10 in her floor routine, 9.6 on the vault, 9.45 on the beam and 8.85 on the bars. Patterson said there were many great individual routines.
Over the season Patterson learned new skills and she said the other gymnasts pushed each other to be better.
Julia Nixon earned the next best result for FitKidz placing sixth overall. Her best score came on the floor routine, 9.65.
With this provincial competition being her third, she was not as nervous.
“I felt pretty good,” said Nixon. “My first routine was not my best and I tried to erase it and keep going.”
Nixon scored the lowest on the bars at 7.725. She said the bars were the hardest because gymnasts have to connect all their skills.
Nixon scored nine or better in the vault, beam and floor.
“I was really happy,” she said. “They (competitors) were really good.”
During the provincials Nixon learned to keep going and perform her best.
“I enjoy performing on the floor. I got to show my expressions.”
Ella Simmons finished 10th, with her best score coming on the floor, earning 9.375 points. Olivia Dunley-Owen finished 15th. Her best result was on the vault, where she scored 9.225.
Dunley-Owen, who is in Grade 9, competed against Grade 12 athletes and said she had fun at her fourth provincials. She said her finish was alright and that she could have performed better. Going head-to-head with older gymnasts was scary and she watched their routines to see how good they were. She said one day she hopes to “be as good as them.”
For junior Olympic 6, Zone 2, their team finished fourth.
In junior Olympic 5, Maya Bassot placed 11th. Her best score, 8.966, came on the vault. The team finished second.
