The coaches of a small group of four girls in gymnastics at South Cariboo Rhythmic Gymnastics, are very excited for their biggest and most exciting competition yet, the BC Winter Games, which will be held in Kamloops starting Feb. 22.
The group of girls, their ages ranging from 10 to 12, practice on Thursday and Friday from 3:45 until 6:45 p.m. each night, not including their other gymnastic classes during the week.
Cate McArthur, Allie Donnelly, Nicole Hollander, and Alexa Ohlund are very excited to be able to attend the BC Winter Games. They are the only four gymnasts from Zone 8 (which measures from around Dawson Creek to 100 Mile House) attending the games and are lucky to have an opportunity to go, for all participants can only attend the games once, due to limited space.
“I like seeing all the other gymnasts and how good they are, and of course their outfits,” Hollander says, adding that she also enjoys spending time with her friends at competitions. All the girls agreed that they are nervous but also very excited for the games.
The girls also attend smaller competitions along with other girls in their club that compete, and McArthur says that at the BC Winter Games there will be more types of sports such as basketball, while at smaller competitions, it is usually only gymnastics.
Sang-Hee Robinson organized the event for the group, and Michaila Robinson, the head coach of the group, has been working hard to get the groups routine down pat. Kim Rottluff is the assistant coach, and she says it is a dream come true for her to be able to take gymnasts from her hometown to the Winter Games as a coach, where she competed in 2006.
“I am proud of the gymnasts’ hard work, their passion, the smiles they share with their coaches and most of all that they get to be a part of this wonderful experience,” says Rottluff.
The girls have been practicing since October, and have had the help of a National Coach from Victoria to perfect their routines which Robinson put together. Hollander says that the national coach also helped some of them with their single routines, and she says it was a great help.
The gymnasts are hoping to be able to bring home lots of memories and maybe even a medal.