Jairus Ball of Chimo Gymnastics placed fifth at the Western Canadian Gymnastics Championships in Brandon, Man. last month. He had a second-place in team, fourth on pommel horse, and was the level 4 bronze medalist on vault.
Early-May, 29 Chimo athletes travelled to Duncan with impressive results. Jessie de Balinhard received the award for outstanding vault of the day, and was third overall in the Junior Olympics 6 level. In Junior Olympic levels 1 and 2, 11 athletes won gold and four had silver standings for their overall scores. In Junior Olympic level 3, Raina Hagel placed first overall. Level 3 athletes Thea Macdonald and Emma Woloshyn had second-place results, and Julia Matell and Lilya Georgieva were third. In Junior Olympics level 4, Mya Drobot placed third overall and Hailey Sample took home the bronze for level 5.
Chimo also had five athletes qualify for Vancouver Island teams at the B.C. Gymnastic Championships in Port Coquitlam. Jessie de Balinhard and Taylor Parker-Paquette qualified for the Junior Olympic Level 6 team. Jessie was second on vault, 10th on uneven bars, eighth on floor, and eighth all-around. Taylor was 12th all-around.
Kenzie Pritoula, Malaiah Ceria and Thea Parker qualified for the JO level five team. Kenzie and Malaiah placed second all-around in their age categories. Thea was fifth on floor, and the team placed second in the province out of 11 teams.
Emma Wolfe competed in JO7 and placed ninth on balance beam. www.chimogymnastics.ca