A new super-loaded weekend has arrived. At least four big meets, around the world, are taking place on Saturday and Sunday and following them all will be tricky. I will happily oblige to limit myself to only one (Turin, live) but for the less fortunate at home there will be plenty of perks. We need to prepare and be strategic about this.
Here’s a brief introduction to each of the meets and how to follow:
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4 Nations Cup
Where?
Turin, Italy, former 2006 winter Olympic host.
Who?
Participating in this meet are Italy, the host, alongside Russia, Romania and Colombia. The list of gymnasts participating has been finalized recently:
Romania: Diana Bulimar, Andreea Iridon, Laura Jurca, Anamaria Ocolisan, Silvia Zarzu, Andreea Ciurusniuc
Russia: Evgeniya Shelgunova, Seda Tutkhalyan, Anastasia Dimitrieva, Maria Bondareva, Angelina Melinkova, Ekaterina Sokova
Italy: Sofia Bonistalli, Giorgia Campana, Alessia Leolini, Lavinia Marongiu, Elisa Meneghini, Arianna Rocca, Tea Ugrin
Colombia: Bibiana Velez Alzate, Ginna Escobar Bentacur, Catalina Escobar Gomez, Rudy Sandoval Afanador, Melba Avendano Romero, Lisbet Ruiz
When? What is the format/schedule?
This is a team competition that will take place on the 30th of May (Saturday), starting with 4:45pm, local time.
How do I follow?
TCG (Bea) will be there and we aim providing plenty of updates from Friday’s training session (if open to media), as well as the story of the event as it happens.
The Italian Gymnastics Federation takes good care of us again. A live feed for the event has been set up already and can be accessed here.
The official website of the competition was helpful for the general info (when, where) but was not really updated with new info. I am pretty sure the FGI website will have the results, but there this website and this one could also have plenty of updates.
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Flanders International Team Challenge
Where?
In our beloved Ghent (Belgium), city of phenomenal architecture, sports and most of all, gymnastics.
Who?
This is a huge meet with tens and tens of gymnasts, both senior and junior. Among the participant countries – Great Britain, Belgium, Germany, France, Austria, The Netherlands, Brazil, New Zealand, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Ireland. The individuals we can’t wait to see in action include Olympians Elisabeth Seitz (Ger), Rebecca Tunney (GB), Celine van Gerner (Ned) but also new talents with a eye on Rio – Catherine Lyons, Rebecca Andrade, Flavia Saraiva.
When? What is the format/schedule?
This will be a team competition, taking place over two days, on Saturday and Sunday (30th and 31st of May):
Qualifications Junior – Saturday from 9:00 am up to 3:00pm
Qualifications Senior – Saturday from 3:30 pm up until 8:30 pm
Final Junior and Senior – Sunday from 3:00 pm to 5:15 pm
How do I follow?
Unfortunately there will be no live stream (that I am aware of) so we will have to count on the fans Belgian, French or from wherever they will be travelling, to take lots and lots of pictures and videos and share them with us.
The official competition website has a lot of interesting content, hopefully they will also post the results in real time.
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Canadian Championships
Where?
This competition takes place in Gatineau, western Quebec, Canada.
Who?
A bunch of senior and junior gymnasts are participating; some of the best known are Ellie Black, Shallon Olsen, Isabella Onysko, Sydney Laird, Audrey Rousseau, Rose-Kaying Woo, Victoria-Kayen Woo, Sabrina Gill, Maegan Chant.
When? What is the format/schedule?
From tomorrow, the 28th of May (Thursday), up until Sunday:
Thursday – 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm – Senior Qualification
Friday – 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm – Senior Qualification
Sunday: 2:30pm – 4:30 pm Event Finals, Senior and Junior
How do I follow?
It seems that we are in luck, hopefully not just the ones located in Canada, and we will have a live stream via sportscanada.tv
This is the official Canadian Nationals website, but you could also follow the Canadian Gymnastics Federation website, which also provides valuable updates for various events.
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Lugano Trophy
Where?
In Lugano, a scenic town on Lake Lugano, in the south of Switzerland.
Who?
In the women’s competition, top European teams are being represented:
Italy: Carofiglio Desiree, Colombo Clara
Romania: Botnaru Alisia, Ghiciu Carmen,
Russia: Perebinosova Uliana, Kapitonova Natalia
Spain: Sanchez Marta, Prats Elsa,
Switzerland: Wildi Anina, Meier Leonie, Brogli Thea
Hungary: Kovacs Jsofia, Jakob Noemi, Molnár Csenge
When? What is the format/schedule?
This is a junior meet that takes place once every two year. Former winners include Elisa Meneghini, Andreea Munteanu, Amelia Racea.
There will be an all around competition, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 30th, starting with 8:00 pm local time.
How do I follow?
I don’t believe there will be a live stream but you will likely find updates on the competition official website.
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Other smaller meets with less guaranteed coverage are also taking place these days – Romanian Jr Nationals (Buzau), Russian Youth Championships, an US National Qualifier in Texas and I have a feeling that the list could go on.
If you have anything to add to the above, please let us know,we would be happy to hear it!
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Article by: Bea Gheorghisor
Photo Cover: Nadia Boyce