Kate Popescul practices on the beam while some young gymnasts look on in admiration. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Gymnastics

WATCH: PA gymnast qualifies for Westerns

Apr 3, 2025 | 4:00 PM

A huge smile fills Kate Popescul’s face when asked about the possibility of one day representing Canada at the Olympics.

The 12-year old gymnast, who trains out of the Aerials club in Prince Albert, has qualified for the Western Canadian Championships, which will be held later this month in Saskatoon. It’s a feat no other gymnast at the club has done for at least two years.

“I’m excited. I’ve never done it before and I’m excited to go there,” she said when interviewed by paNOW on Wednesday.

Popescul has been training since she was four years old and acknowledged she’s thought for a long time about the idea about going to Westerns. The sport requires an extreme amount of dedication and near perfection.

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“It’s really fun and I enjoy it a lot,” she said when asked what motivates her.

Danielle Clark is Kate’s coach at Aerials Gymnastics and said Kate’s qualification is exciting for the whole club.

“This is the first time in a couple of years that the club has sent an athlete to Westerns and she has spent the whole season working extremely hard, has barely missed any practice and has been very determined to trial for Westerns. So to not only to make it to trials as a level eight, but then to also make the team has been like an amazing goal of hers and also of mine now,” she said.

Kate Popescul practices her floor routine. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

As Popescul works on her routine on the floor and on the beam, younger gymnasts at the club stop what they are doing and watch in awe. Clark, who has only known Kate for six months, said Kate is definitely a huge inspiration to all of the gymnasts.

“A lot of them know her by name and say, oh, there’s Kate. And one of them today actually said, ‘oh, Kate’s gonna be famous now,” she said.

The Western Canadian Championships are being hosted this year by Gymnastics Saskatchewan and will run in Saskatoon from April 24 to 26.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell.bsky.social