Canada Makes the Team Final (women's artistic gymnastics) For First Time Ever 2012, artistic, clearing, history, Sarah

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Canada Makes the Team Final For First Time Ever

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/gymnastics/news/article/canada-makes-the-team-final.html


Sarah Robinson, CTVOlympics.ca Staff

One of Canada's strongest rivals, Germany, helped the Canucks make history Sunday.

Germany fell in the fourth subdivision of the women's artistic gymnastics at the London 2012 Olympic Games - clearing the way for Canada to make the team final for the first time ever at a non-boycotted Olympic Games.

Canada finished fifth in team at the boycotted Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games.

The first Canadian team to qualify for an Olympic team final is comprised of: Kristina Vaculik of Whitby, Ont., Victoria Moors of Cambridge, Ont., Brittany Rogers of Coquitlam, BC., Dominique Pegg of Sarnia, Ont. and Ellie Black of Halifax.

"We're making history right now," said Jean-Paul Caron, the president and CEO of Gymnastics Canada. "The worst the team could do right now is eighth, and we've never done that before.

"We can only go up, and that's what we're going to try to do."

The Canadians did not look like they would contend for a spot in the team final after a spotty performance in their subdivision - particularly on beam, after Vaculik fell twice on the apparatus, despite being expected to perform the best.

"I knew we were quite strong on floor and vault, so I knew if we could hit those two events, we could move back up," said Caron. "After vault, for sure I thought it would be tight, but I knew we'd have a chance."

The Canadians' surprise victory was made all the more poignant by the flowers nestled in the women's hair.

Each of the gymnasts wore a white flower in their hair as a silent tribute to their honourary team captain, Peng Peng Lee of Richmond Hill, Ont.

The top all-around Canadian at the Olympic Test Event in January, Lee was expected to be the lynchpin of the Canadian team. But a torn ACL just before nationals prematurely ended Lee's Olympic journey.

“I think we’re all just going to pull together and show our respect for her and her gymnastics, and what she’s done for our country," said Vaculik ahead of the Games. "Hopefully we make her and our country proud for how we do at the Olympics.”

It's safe to say the Canucks have succeeded - not only in achieving their goal of reaching the team final at London 2012, but the team has certainly made their captain proud.

"The door is now open," said Caron.


Wieber Weeps

It was the second shock to rock the gymnastics community Sunday, after all-around favourite Jordyn Wieber of US failed to qualify for the all-around final.

Not because Wieber did not score high enough, but because the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG)'s rules currently only allow two gymnasts per country to qualify for each individual final.

Wieber was beaten by teammates Gabrielle Douglas and Alexandra Raisman, falling to third overall and out of contention for the all-around final.

US still leads the team standings, with Russia in second.

More to come.