Two Olds gymnasts in Alberta Winter Games

For the first time, two Olds gymnasts will be competing in the Alberta Winter Games, Olds Gymnastics Club coach Michelle Jaffray says.

The games take place in Fort MacMurray Feb. 16-19. Jennifer Conway, 16, and Chloe Gardner, 13, will make up half of the Level 6 Zone 2 team, which will compete in artistic gymnastics Feb. 16-18.

Also, Olds Gymnastics coach Jen Jardine will be accompanying the team to the games.

In addition to Conway and Gardner, the other two members of the Zone 2 team are Jade Marks of Carstairs and Mia Dionne of Okotoks.

"This is a proud moment for Olds Gymnastics and the town of Olds," Jaffray says.

Artistic gymnastics includes events like vaulting, parallel bars, the balance beam and floor exercises.

Jaffray is confident Conway and Gardner will do well.

"All they've been doing now is just training," she says.

On Dec. 10, Gardner and Conway participated in a competition near Edmonton and scored well against competitors ranging in age from 10-17.

In order to secure a spot on the team, gymnasts had to earn an overall score that placed them in the top four of all the gymnasts within the zone.

Conway finished her trails to the games in first place with a score of 36.533. Gardner finished right behind her in second place with an overall score of 36.532.

"Gymnastics is a tough sport when 0.001 separates first and second place," Jaffray says.