Gymnasts depart for competitions in Canada
It will be their first time competing in Canada, but expectations are high for Jamaica’s junior gymnastic team to give a good account of themselves as they depart the island today for the North American country.
The 31-member team to be accompanied by three coaches and National Gymnastics Federation (NGF) president Nicole Grant will compete at the Strathcona Challenge from March 1-4 and the Gymnix Challenge from March 8-12 in Edmonton.
Tristan Hall and Shenice Martin from Nishidas Gymnastics and Nadeen Whyte from Jamaica School of Gymnastics (JSG) will be the coaches overseeing the team’s performances.
The gymnasts between the ages of six to 16 years will be competing from levels one through to 10, with one Elite Senior Team member Mackenzie Robinson also being a part of the squad.
The Canadian-born Robinson has been on the rise since representing the country at the World Gymnastics Championships last year and should be a major factor for the National Junior Development Team.
She will compete in the Gymnix International category against other countries while the juniors will compete in the Gymnix Challenge against club teams from other countries.
“The team has been training at least four days per week over a four to five-hour period at each training session at their respective gyms — Nishidas Kingston, Nishidas Montego Bay, Portmore Gymnastics and the Jamaica School of Gymnastics.
“They also train together once per week on a Sunday and also had a three-week stint with the Chinese coaches, who visited in January. So I think that all augurs well for us heading off. We have assigned three coaches to work with them and I think everyone is ready and raring to go to enjoy the experience,” Grant told the Jamaica Observer shortly after sharing in a worship service at Fellowship Tabernacle with members of the team on Sunday.
Grant pointed out that Robinson’s presence in the team will add impetus and further motivation to her younger peers, who will be making their Canadian debut.
“We just want them to gain the experience necessary for their development, we know they are fighters and serious competitors and we only expect that they put out their best and represent their country proudly and with humility,” Grant said.
“We specially invited McKenzie because she is from Canada and will be more comfortable in her homeland. I believe her being comfortable and composed will help our kids competing for the first time in Canada to also be a bit more comfortable and composed.
“She is a big motivator to the kids and they adore her. We also want to give her some more competition as she just turned senior to prepare for the Senior PanAm,” the president ended.