Chilliwack's Zach Clay flies through the air, performing an artistic gymnastics routine at the 2019 University of Calgary International Cup competition. (GYMNASTICS CANADA PHOTO)

Chilliwack's Zach Clay flies through the air, performing an artistic gymnastics routine at the 2019 University of Calgary International Cup competition. (GYMNASTICS CANADA PHOTO)

Chilliwack gymnast shakes off the rust at University of Calgary International Cup

Competing at the first big event of 2019, Zach Clay showed why he's a member of Canada's national team

Chilliwack gymnast Zachary Clay tackled his first major competition of 2019, competing in the University of Calgary’s International Cup.

The meet was held March 15-17 at Calgary’s Markin McPhail Centre.

Clay competed in the senior international event, representing Canada as they went toe-to-toe with a team from the United States.

He entered six events and made the final in three.

Working out the kinks in a new routine, Clay placed fourth on the parallel bars and pommel horse and finished sixth on the horizontal bar.

His Canadian crew lost a close battle to the US.

Clay is preparing for the 2019 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships which will be held Oct. 4-13 in Stuttgart, Germany.

This should be fifth trip to worlds for the 24 year old, who trains at Twisters Gymnastics in Abbotsford.

Tremendously important any year, the worlds taken on added significance this year as a qualifier for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

Chilliwack Progress