That's a wrap

The Pan Am Games have come to an end for Oakville's senior memebers of the Canadian Women's team. 


Over all a very succesful outing I would say!! 

• Team Silver just 2.3 behind the US team (which had two former World Champions)
• 4th place finish for Peng in the All Around and 5th place in the Uneven Bars Event Finals

Watch more video of Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011: Artistic Gymnastics on gymnastike.org

• Silver Medal for Mikaela in the Floor Event Finals (have not been able to locate video of Mikaelas floor routine from event finals yet but will post as soon as I do.

With a bronze medal in the all around and a silver in the balance beam  final(Kristina Vaculik) Team Canada comes away with a ton of confidence which should be great for them heading into the final test event in January.  Congrats Mikaela and Peng!!!!



Mikaela Gerber Silver Medalist Floor Final (photo Grace Chiu)

Peng Peng Lee Uneven Bars Final (photo Grace Chiu)

Canada Silver Medalists at Pan Am Games

Team Canada - Mikaela, Coralie, Kristina, Talia, and Peng Peng (photo Grace Chiu)

Wow!  What a great confidence boost this will be for Peng Peng Lee, Mikaela Gerber and all the Canadian Women heading into the test event in London.  Canada was holding on to first after the first subdivision and as expected the US over came them in the second subdivision to take the Gold.  However, the US did not have a good day and only managed 2.5 better than the Canadians.  Four Double Twisting Yurchenkos from the US women proved to be the deciding factor!!  Canada's gotta get some more DTY's!!!

Peng Peng Lee - 2nd All Around in Qualification (photo Grace Chiu)

Peng Peng, even with a fall on beam, qualified just .100 out of first place in the all around and has qualified for the Individual AA finals as well as uneven bar finals later this week.  Peng Peng is absolutely in the running for medals in both!!! 

Mikaela Gerber - Top spot on floor in qualification (photo Grace Chiu)

Mikaela rocked the floor and has the distinction of holding the highest qualifying score heading into event finals on floor!!  A gold medal on this event would be amazing for her and Canada. 

Kristina Vaculik will compete in the AA as well as Beam and Floor event finals.  She is the first reserve for the vault final. Talia Chiarelli qualified for beam event finals.

Congratulations to the Team!!  We are all very proud of you!!

Mikaela Gerber 13.95 Floor Team Final Pan American Games

Watch more video of Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011: Artistic Gymnastics on gymnastike.org

Peng Peng 14.275 Uneven Bars Team Final Pan American Games!!!

Watch more video of Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011: Artistic Gymnastics on gymnastike.org

Worlds ‘Best in Show’- Part 1

Worlds ‘Best in Show’- Part 1

Peng Peng's beam mount earned her a spot in the couch gymnasts "Worlds awards"

Pan American Games

It seems like only a few days ago Peng Peng, Mikaela and Sue returned from Tokyo after World Championships.....wait a minute it was only a few days ago!!  Well they're off again!!! This time to Mexico for the Pan American Games!!!  Maybe we should start thinking about investing in our own airline.  OGC Air has a nice ring to it no? 

You can check results at this link
http://www.gymnasticsresults.com/pa/2011/guadalajara.html

As usual as photos and video become available I will try to get it up here as quickl as possible.

GOOD LUCK LADIES!!!!!

Mikaela Gerber, Sue Manjak, Peng Peng Lee

The interviews

http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Sports/Olympic_Sports/1328549609/ID=2154303374  Peng Peng on CBC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n4oQ6Ksk-c  Mikaela Gerber Gymnastics Canada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLkqYl_dDAI  Peng Peng Lee Gymnastics Canada

Congratulations Christine!!!

What do you think of when you hear the name Peng Peng Lee? Many may say they remember the tiny wonderkid who dazzled Canada and the world with her crazy difficulty and spectacular smile!! Today, however, Peng Peng is often referred to as Christine and Christine has grown up!! She now posses not only skills and a spectacular smile but a maturity that helped her come back from, not only a 2 year layoff from a serious back injury, but a dislocated knee cap just 5 months ago to finishing 19th in the World! Last Friday Christine also helped the Canadian team to an 11th place finish in the team qualification which puts Canada one step closer to qualifying a full team to the 2012 Olympics. Incredible!!! We congratulate Christine on her 1st World Championships!!! Well Done!!!!!

Thank you Grace Chui for the beautiful photos!!

Congratulations Silvia!!

Silvia Colussi Paleaz - SPAIN.  12 months ago no one thought a girl from Oakville Ontario would make the Spanish National Team.  Someone forgot to tell Silvia!!  Far away from home since early August Silvia has worked her butt off and earned herself a place on the the Spanish National team that finished just behind Canada in 12th.  No doubt Spain will be looking to improve on that in January in London!!

I have not been able to find any video or photos of Silvia from Worlds other than this picture with Tandoori Poulet!!

If anyone knows of any links to photos and/or videos please let me know!!

Congratulations Mikaela!!

Mikaela Gerber was the alternate for Canada up until the evening before the 2011 World Championships Team Qualification Competititon.  During the weeks of training camps leading up to worlds and then podium training, Mikaela hit routine after routine.  With lower start values than many of the other girls, Mikaela knew she had an up hill battle on her hands to get on the team.  In the end the powers that be could not ignore the consistency!!  In her first World Championships, and with very little International experience, Mikaela performed like a seasoned veteran hitting 3 for 3 !!!  We are all very proud of Mikaela!!!!  Congratulations on your first World Championships!!

One skill at a time!!!

http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php/world-news-archive/3002-key-for-lee-one-skill-at-a-time.html

Some photos and a good luck wish!!



Competing Thursday in the All Around Final - Christine Lee photo by Grace Chiu



 Mikaela Gerber photo by Grace Chiu

I really LOVE this picture!!!  Team Canada photo by Grace Chiu

GOOD LUCK to Christine tomorrow in the All Around Final!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gymnasts of the day -- and news you can use!

Gymnasts of the day -- and news you can use!

Mikaela Gerber gets a very nice write up here!!

IG Online: Tokyo 2011 World's Webisode 3

Team Canada 11th, Peng qualifies for AA finals

Canada has qualified for the second Olympic test event in January!!  Even with several falls Canada managed to finish 11th!!!  Peng Peng Lee will be in the All Around final next Thursday!

Canada will now look to secure a top 4 finish in January in order to send a full team to the Olympics!!

I have been able to find a you tube channel with videos from qualification!! 

http://www.youtube.com/user/Mrsangeandbella

It has all the girls routines you just have to scroll through all the videos

Canada sitting 3rd after first day of qualification!!

Photo:  Grace Chiu

Sounds like there were a few falls today but Canada managed to improve their score by nearly 3 full points over last year.  Mikaela Gerber hit 3 for 3 AGAIN!  Miss Reliable!!  Peng Peng Lee hit 3 for 4 (a fall on beam) is currently in a pretty good position to make the All Around final!  I hope so that would great for her and Canada!!  I haven't been able to find any photo's or video yet but will post as soon as I do!!!

Now we just have sit and wait for the results from tomorrows qualification round which includes the US, Russia, China, Italy, Spain and Great Britain!!  At this point it seems like Canada has done enough to qualify for the second Olympic qualifying event taking place in London in January!

Lets all get behind Team Canada and wish them Luck!!!

Sue Ashton of Gymnastics Canada has sent this out!!  Please take a moment and send the girls your best wishes!!  Every little bit can help!!!

Artistic World Championships – Tokyo
If you wish to send your best wishes to our WAG and MAG teams in Tokyo, please email to Lise Simard at lsimard@gymcan.org (WAG) or Jeff Thomson jthomson@gymcan.org (MAG) and they will pass them along to the teams.

GO CANADA GO!!! Let’s get behind them!!!


Take care



Sue Ashton
Gymnastics Canada - Gymnastique Canada

Team Canada in Japan

My apologies!  I have been away for a few days!  I am back and have heard from Sue that everyone has arrived safe in Japan!!  I have been sent a couple of links for video of Team Canada in Japan (down time).  I have also tracked down some of my own links of training and some photos!!   

Enjoy!!

http://www.youtube.com/user/Canadianworldsteam11#p/a/u/0/OJyU27OagaQ  This is funny and an interesting commentary on cultural differences LOL!!

Peng and Maddie on beam http://www.gymnastike.org/coverage/240242-World-Gymnastics-Championships-Tokyo-2011/video/508241-Canada-Peng-Peng-Lee.  If you select bars you can also see Mikeala on bars.

                        Mikaela Gerber of Canada. Credit: Brigid McCarthy/The Couch Gymnast

                          Christine Lee of Canada. Credit: Brigid McCarthy/The Couch Gymnast

Will continue to try and find photos and video to keep you up to date on our girls in Japan!!

Good Luck Team Canada!!!!