OLDS — Two members of the Imagine Gymnastics club in Olds will represent Zone 2 in the 2024 Alberta Winter Games starting Friday and ending Feb. 19 in Grande Prairie.
Penelope Symes and Carmen Watson, both 13 years old, qualified for the Games by placing in the top four in their level during a meet in Wetaskiwin in December.
Symes placed second overall in Level 7 and Watson finished second overall in Level 6.
Imagine gymnastics was also awarded a coaching position for Zone 2. Head coach Michelle Jaffray will be making the trip.
Both athletes were interviewed by the Albertan.
Symes
Symes competed in beams, uneven bars, floor exercises and vault.
She was pretty pleased with how she performed in each of those events.
“I think I got nines on all of them except for vaults,” she said.
Symes said she’s looking forward to the Games.
“I’m really excited, because it’s like a mini Olympics almost,” she said, adding she is “a little bit nervous,” as the competition gets closer.
Symes began taking gymnastics about six years ago.
“Penny’s always wanted to do gymnastics,” her father Dustin said.
“When the club was in the middle school and they were set up-and-tear-downs, it was really tough to get in. There weren’t very many athlete spots.
“They moved to one of the commercial spots in town. It used to be the old Sears by Smitty’s there. And when they moved there, they actually held try-outs, and so she tried a spring session and did try-outs and then the coach said she should do competitive (gymnastics). And we haven’t stopped since.”
Symes said in order to do well at the Games, the most important thing she can do is work on consistency in all she does.
“I think my worst event would be vault,” she said.
She has a plan to improve in that event.
“Just more practise, just practise.”
Symes was asked what she likes about gymnastics.
“I don’t know. I just love it,” she said with a laugh. “I like to know how far I can go and see how far I can push myself. I just want to see how far I can go.”
Dustin is happy and “very proud” to see his daughter make it to the Alberta Winter Games.
“I’m just happy that she’s gotten the opportunity to follow her dreams and work at something she really enjoys,” he said.
Watson
Watson said she’s been doing gymnastics for about eight years, “since Kindergarten.”
She and her 14-year-old sister Pam were introduced to the sport when they were invited to attend a Bring Your Friend to Gymnastics event.
“We got brought to gymnastics and it was really fun, so we kept begging mom to put us into gymnastics,” Watson said.
“I just kind of fell in love with it,” she said. “I really like the support I get from my teammates and my coaches. Trying new skills, the feeling of getting a new skill and everything.”
Unfortunately, Pam hurt her foot and was thus unable to compete to qualify for the Winter Games.
Watson said lately, among other skills, she’s been working on back handsprings, back handsprings on beam and “giants.”
“A giant’s where your hands are on the bar and then you swing around with your hands. So you go on the high bar and you loop around the bar,” she said.
Watson said during practice she likes to work on the bars but during competition her favourite event is the beam.
“Usually the mental part of gymnastics is the hardest for me because sometimes I get in my head when I want to go for a skill or anything like that,” Watson said. “But I’ve learned to help with that and everything and stop doing that.”
She said the easiest part of a competition – and her favourite event – is working on the bars.
Like Symes, Watson admitted she’s pretty nervous as the Winter Games loom ever closer.
“It’s my first time going to Winter Games. So yeah, (I’m) pretty nervous. But excited to meet the people and compete with all of them and everything,” she said.
Watson has a plan to deal with those nerves.
“Just be more confident and don’t doubt myself,” she said.
Watson said it would be nice to keep doing gymnastics and maybe obtain a sponsor when she’s older. But she also views the sport as simply a fun activity while she’s young.
“When I’m older, I’ll get a job,” she said with a short laugh.
Watson’s parents Calvin and Leanna are thrilled for her.
“(I’m) pretty proud of her, Calvin said.
“It’s exciting. She’s worked hard for this,” Leanna added.
