For the first time ever, Team Saskatchewan will represent Canada at the International Federation of Gymastics (FIG) Gala (Facebook/ Gym Sask.)

By Nigel Maxwell

Gymnastics

P.A. athletes heading to Austria

Jul 4, 2019 | 3:00 PM

The team representing Canada at a prestigious gymnastics event in Austria next week has a number of Prince Albert connections.

Dilynn Bell is among the participants, Prestyn Sogge is going as a manager, and Kara Thorpe is the team’s coach. Thorpe said she is excited for the event.

“To be a part of the International Federation of Gymastics (FIG) Gala is a huge honour. It is the top performance piece you can be in once every four years at the highest level of performance gymnastics,” she said.

The FIG Gala is part of World Gymnaestrada, an international non-competitive event held every four years. There will over 22,000 participants, with 29 coming from Saskatchewan. This year actually marks the first time Saskatchewan will represent Canada at the event.

The team held its final practice June 30 at the University of Regina. (Facebook/Gym Sask)

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Thorpe likens the event to a Cirque de Soleil show and as it will include special lighting and sound tech. The hoops used by Team Saskatchewan will glow orange and red as they perform. The goal for each country is to put together the most creative and unique routine.

“The reason why [Saskatchewan] was chosen is because we actually have trampoline gymnastics, women’s gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics and then we actually have a pole dancer on the team, so it’s a very unique routine because it includes all the disciplines,” Thorpe said.

Team Saskatchewan has been training for the past two years, meeting once a month in various locations across the province. Thorpe said everyone on the team is really excited about the trip, and just wants to get going.

The team was scheduled to leave on Thursday. The gala runs July 7 to July 13.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell