Jinayah Nelson flicks her wrist, painting the air with a fluttering red ribbon.
The six-metre long fabric arcs over the 11 year oldB次元官网网址檚 head like a rainbow, as she simultaneously kicks her left leg skyward and back to the ground. The young rhythmic gymnast resets for another try, as her mother, Tanya, looks on.
B次元官网网址淲hether itB次元官网网址檚 my daughter, or one of the other girls B次元官网网址� I am entranced every time I see it,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭he joy they have keeps me watching every time. I go to every show, I go to everything; I just love it.B次元官网网址�
Jinayah is one of 20 local gymnasts who qualified at the 2014 national championships in Calgary for next summerB次元官网网址檚 World Gymnaestrada 2015 in Helsinki, Finland.
Her club, Victoria Rhythmic Gymnastics, was the lone team in B.C. to qualify athletes for the event, running July 12 to 18. With more than 25,000 gymnasts from over 50 countries participating, the Gymnaestrada is one of the largest gymnastics events in the world.
B次元官网网址淚t is extremely exciting and very inspirational, it shows how gymnastics can link people all around the world,B次元官网网址� said club coach Barbara Bishop. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 exciting to travel and learn about new places and help develop youth to (draw) greater inspiration from the world.B次元官网网址�
Having completed the first step B次元官网网址� qualifying for the event B次元官网网址� the next one, Bishop said, is to raise enough money to send the all-female team to Finland. Ranging in age from 10 to 50, the athletes are looking to demonstrate skills theyB次元官网网址檝e developed through training three or four days and more than 10 hours a week.
B次元官网网址淭hey are very excited and itB次元官网网址檚 self-funded, so they are working hard to fundraise and get donations to get us all there,B次元官网网址� Bishop said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about $3,000 to $4,000 for each person to get there.B次元官网网址�
Jinayah, a Grade 6 student at Lakewood elementary and a gymnast since she was four, is preparing herself physically and mentally for the trip of a lifetime, she said. SheB次元官网网址檚 ready to take on the challenge of a string of bake sales, silent auctions, dance competitions and barbecues for the next six months to get there.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a really big opportunity to go and represent B.C and Canada,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really cool how a little club from B.C. can (qualify).B次元官网网址�
Every penny the team makes will go towards Finland so they can get there, she added.
The teamB次元官网网址檚 next fundraising event and showcase happens tomorrow (Dec. 13), the 2014 Snowflake Rhythmic Gymnastics Performance and Invitational Competition. The event starts at 10:15 a.m. at Shoreline Community School at 2750 Shoreline Dr. and admission is by donation.
For more information on Victoria Rhythmic Gymnastics and their fundraising, visit .
alim@goldstreamgazette.com
