Emerson Mandset, Annika Denkowski and Rebecca van Helmond will compete in Quesnel
Submitted by Ice Gymnastics
Three local gymnasts have qualified to compete in the 2024 BC Winter Games in Quesnel.
Nine gymnasts from the Kootenay region competed for one of six spots on the Region 1 BC Winter Games team. Rebecca van Helmond, Annika Denkowski and Emerson Mandseth took the top three places in the trials on December 16 in Nelson.
13-year-old Van Helmond won the event and also took gold medals on bars and beam and bronze on floor. Denkowski, 14, was a close second, taking silver on bars and bronze on beam. Fourteen-year-old Mandseth finished on the podium in third place with a silver medal on floor and beam.
The Glacier training team was a little nervous going into this competition because all of the gymnasts had to step up to the plate this season in order to compete in the trials.
“We weren’t sure how the girls would compare to other Level 7 gymnasts,” said head coach Sandra Long. “The three girls have been working hard over the past four months, learning new skills to add to their routine.”
Everyone on the team continues to focus on improving their routines at the BC Winter Games competition in Quesnel, Feb. 22-25.
“We are proud of the girls for making the team,” Long said. “They returned to training inspired and motivated to increase their scoring potential.”
The standard of gymnastics at the Games is very high and the team will compete against gymnasts who train four to eight hours more per week. Long says all three girls are up to the challenge.
“They are dedicated to doing their best at the Games. They are an accomplished team and there is a very good chance for them to return home to Nelson with one or more medals at the BC Winter Games.”
For more information, contact Sandra Long at sandra@glaciergymnastics.com.