Six medal day for Canadian artistic gymnasts on first day of apparatus finals at 2018 Commonwealth Games

GOLD COAST, AUS (April 8, 2018) – The Canadian artistic gymnastics team had a banner day on Sunday at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, walking away with six medals including gold and silver on vault for Shallon Olsen of Surrey, BC and Ellie Black of Halifax, NS respectively.

Scott Morgan of Vancouver, BC started off the medals, winning silver on floor with a score of 13.833 behind Marios Georgiou of Cyprus who scored 13.966, and ahead of Daniel Purvis of Scotland with a score of 13.733.

“It was a bit of a tough day, I was a bit tired coming in, and the format changed a bit for finals so we weren’t able to touch the equipment which changed things up a bit, but all in all it was a great day,” said Morgan who also won silver on floor at the 2014 Games.

Next up was the vault for women where Olsen’s first vault, which has a difficulty score of 6.000, set her up to dominate the final with a final score of 14.566, edging teammate Black who took silver with a score of 14.233. Capturing the bronze was Emily Whitehead of Australia with a score of 13.849.

“It was absolutely fantastic today. The crowd was so uplifting and so supportive and I’m so thankful for this opportunity. It’s just great being out there representing Canada,” said Olsen who joins Black as a double gold medallist at these Games, and who still has the floor finals to compete in tomorrow.

There was a major upset in the men’s pommel horse final with 18-year-old Rhys McClenaghan of Northern Ireland knocking Max Whitlock of England, the reigning Olympic and world champion, off the top of the podium with a phenomenal routine that actually tied Whitlock’s total score of 15.100, but nabbed the gold thanks to a higher execution score. Zach Clay of Coquitlam, BC took the bronze with a score of 14.300.

“This feels amazing, it’s a feeling that I can’t describe,” said Clay following the competition. “I’ve been to one other Commonwealth Games, and I messed up on my pommel routine back then, so to be able to come to this Commonwealth Games and hit my pommel both days, and to get a bronze medal, is just phenomenal.”

Morgan won his second medal of the day, a bronze, on the rings – an event he was the reigning Commonwealth champion in, with a score of 14.000. Rene Cournoyer of Repentigny, QC fell just off the podium, finishing fourth. Taking the gold was Courtney Tulloch of England with a score of 14.833, and taking silver was Nile Wilson, also of England, with a score of 14.400.

The last event of the day was the uneven bars for women, where Brittany Rogers of Calgary, AB laid down another fantastic performance to capture the silver medal with a score of 14.200. Georgia-Mae Fenton of England won the gold with a score of 14.600, and Georgia Godwin of Australia took bronze with a score of 13.433. Isabela Onyshko of Brandon, MB finished 5th with a score of 13.200.

“I feel like I want to cry, I’m so happy. These Games are everything that I could have dreamed of. The support of my team and my country behind me was just the cherry on top of it all. I was standing on the podium, watching the flag raise, and I don’t know how many more opportunities I’m going to get – seeing my flag above me. It was a very humbling moment. I took so many deep breaths and just took a picture of the moment and tried to soak it all in. I’ve worked so hard for this, and it’s something that could very well be the swan song I’ve been looking for,” said Rogers who first made her international debut for Canada at the 2006 Pan American Games, and who has represented Canada at two Olympic Games (2012, 2016).

The artistic gymnastics competition at the Commonwealth Games wraps up Monday with the following finals:

  • Men’s Vault: Cournoyer, Morgan
  • Parallel Bars: Cory Paterson, Cournoyer
  • Beam: Black, Onyshko
  • Women’s Floor: Black, Olsen
  • High bar: Cournoyer, Paterson

For complete results visit: https://results.gc2018.com/en/artistic-gymnastics/results-m-qual-000003-.htm

Julie Forget

+61 0421 006 831 (from Canada)

421 006 831 (in Australia)

Email: jforget@gymcan.org