Young Canadian women’s artistic gymnastics team gains experience at 2019 Junior World Championships

Ontario’s Cassie Lee, Clara Raposo and coach Lisa Cowan (Manjak’s)

Posted on GYMNASTICS CANADA

 

GYOR, HUN (June 28, 2019) – The Canadian junior women’s artistic gymnastics team of Clara Raposo and Cassie Lee of Toronto, ON and Okeri Katjivari of Brandon, MB had a strong performance on Friday at the 1st FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships in Gyor, HUN, finishing 12th overall in the team competition.


 

Competing in the fifth and final sub-division of the competition, the team was up against teams from Japan, China, and Brazil and had strong performances on all four apparatus to finish the day with a total score of 100.130. Russia ended up taking the gold with a total score of 111.654, while China took silver with a score of 109.497, and the USA captured bronze with a total score of 109.380.

 

In the all-around competition, it was Russia once again standing on top of the podium with Viktoriia Listunova taking the gold, her teammate Vladislava Urazova taking silver, and Yushan Ou of China capturing bronze.

 

“(The competition) felt awesome. For this to be my first international competition, it was such a great experience and was so much fun,” said Lee who is a first-year junior and finished 27thoverall in the all-around competition at this competition with her top scores coming on beam and floor.

 

Raposo also made her international debut at this competition and was happy with her 28thplace AA finish: “Overall I thought the competition went really well. I hit four for four, and felt like I had a lot more confidence and show throughout the day so I think it was good. My highlight was definitely getting to go out there with Team Canada, and to compete at my first world competition. I’m now looking to build on that experience and to get better and better and more confident each time.”

 

Katjivari finished the day in 65th overall, and was most happy with her vault which was her highest score of the day. “I was really happy to do that vault and to show what I can do to the world. What I’m going to take away from this experience is meeting lots of new friends, getting to train in lots of new places, and seeing how other people train in their countries, vs how we do things back in Canada.”

 

Coaches Lisa Cowan from Manjak’s Gymnastics and Frank Kistler were both very happy with the team’s performance. Said Cowan: “I thought the day went exceptionally well for these young ladies. All three handled themselves with poise and professionalism throughout the competition and it’s an excellent start for these youngsters representing Team Canada.”

 

The competition continues Saturday with Felix Dolci of Laval, QC competing in the floor and rings apparatus finals. Also featured on Saturday are the events finals for men’s pommel horse, and women’s vault and uneven bars.

 

Sunday will feature the event finals in men’s vault, parallel bars, and high bars, and the women’s finals on balance beam and floor.

 

The event finals will all be streamed on the FIG’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAM9Pvp3HzKvIAbAXHxidow. FloGymnastics PRO members can also watch the coverage via their platforms.

 

For full results, please visit: https://live.gymnastics.sport/schedule.php?idevent=16020

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