Recovering from a fractured foot barely slowed down a young Sundre gymnast who was committed to competing in the Alberta Winter Games after working hard to qualify for a spot.
Jade Marks, 13, had only one week before the games, which were hosted in the regional municipality of Wood Buffalo from Feb. 16-19, gotten her plastic cast removed. But although she was able to compete, the aspiring gymnast had to alter some of her routines to accommodate her convalescing foot.
"It did kind of interfere a little bit,” she said about the fracture, adding that she had to incorporate different moves that reduced the impact of landing.
And despite being forced to cancel her second attempt at the vault as a result of complications related to the fracture, Marks said she nevertheless managed to compete in the three other categories — uneven bars, floor and the balance beam. Even though she was unable to accomplish everything she would usually otherwise be able to, competing at the provincial level felt good.
"I didn’t think I’d do that well,” she told the Round Up last week.
The Alberta Winter Games, which first started in 1986, were expected to draw out close to 3,000 athletes, coaches and officials for the competition comprised of eight regional zones in 22 sporting events.
Finishing roughly in the middle of the pack out of 32 other gymnasts in the Junior Olympics level 6 category in the uneven bars and floor events, Marks managed to, regardless of her injury, place seventh on the balance beam and modestly said she was fairly happy with her performance, albeit a bit frustrated with the outcome on the vault.
"We’re pretty impressed with her,” said mom Brenda Marks, who carpooled with her husband Jesse and their 10-year-old son Silas to support Jade as well as take in the games.
"She got her cast off a week before she left.”
Their surgeon had recommended allowing a few more weeks for the fracture to heal. However, competing at the games was simply something that Jade felt compelled to do, said Brenda, who confessed she was a bit concerned.
"But she felt it was something she had to do. She was bound and determined — she’d earned that spot and really wanted to go.”
Planning to resume her regular training regimen with the Carstairs Gymnastics Club last week, Jade said her sights are now set on another upcoming competition in Red Deer.
Brenda said she looks forward to seeing her daughter’s gymnastics career continue to grow, and added that Jade’s limp is mending well.
