Music: {allcanada} Canadians 5th at gymnastics worlds after day 1

Sunday, October 5, 2014

{allcanada} Canadians 5th at gymnastics worlds after day 1

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The Canadian women’s gymnastics team is off to a strong start at the 45th Gymnastics World Championships in Nanning, China today.

After the first day of competition Canada is fifth, trailing powerhouse teams from the U.S. and Russia. Only the top eight qualify for the team final, putting Canada on the bubble with China, Great Britain and Romania yet to compete in the qualifying round.

Elsabeth Black of Halifax is Canada’s top-ranked athlete in 10th place. Her strong routine on the balance beam has her ranked second on the event behind U.S. star Simone Biles. Black will likely qualify for the beam finals and could make the podium.

Isabela Onyshko of Brandon, Man. is 14th after the first day. Both Black and Onyshko have a chance to qualify for the individual all around final. Once qualifying finishes Monday, the best 24 gymnasts will advance to the individual all around with a limit of two athletes per country. After Sunday’s competition, Black is seventh and Onyshko is 11th when the Two Per Country rule is applied.

Despite bright spots, the team suffered a big loss when Aleeza Yu of Stouffville, Ont. appeared to injure her knee in the first rotation on balance beam, according to reports from event officials. Yu dropped out of the competition, with Kirsten Peterman of Cambridge, Ont. filling in as the alternate.

Victoria-Kayen Woo of Brossard, Que. is 27th overall after day one, while Maegan Chant of Waterdown, Ont. is 32nd. Peterman is 92nd, with only three scores counting towards her total.

Biles is the defending all-around champ and favourite to win gold, but is less than one point ahead of Aliya Mustafina of Russia. American teammate Kyla Ross is third, but Yao Jinnan of China will challenge for a spot on the podium. Final qualifying results will come Monday once the first round of competition is complete.

The Canadian men competed Saturday finishing 14th as a team and failing to qualify for any individual or event finals. World Championships continue until October 12.

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