Artistic Gymnasts are Ready to Compete Fearlessly at the Commonwealth Games

Artistic Gymnastics first appeared at a Commonwealth Games in 1990, in Auckland, New Zealand. Since then, Canadian gymnasts have continuously delivered and taken home the most medals of any Commonwealth nation or territory, with an amazing 143 medals.

The Canadian men’s artistic team consist of Felix Dolci (Laval, QC), Mathys Jalbert (Laval, QC), Chris Kaji (Oakville, ON), Kenji Tamane (Laval QC), and Jayson Rampersad (Oakville, ON). The artistic Gymnastics women’s team athletes include, Emma Spence (Cambridge, ON), Cassie Lee (Toronto, ON), Jenna Lalonde (Ottawa, ON), Laurie Denommée (Laval, QC), and Maya Zonneveld (Kitchener, ON). See Team Canada 2022 media guide for complete bios.

The team of ten artistic athletes will be setting the bar high, hoping to walk away from the Commonwealth Games with medals. They will be led by coaches, Ed Van Hoof and Jean-Sebastien Tougas.

In the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics competition, 2022 Canadian Champions Felix Dolci and Chris Kaji will be competing in their first Commonwealth Games. The Women’s Artistic Gymnastics  team includes 2018 Youth Olympic Games team member Emma Spence.

"My hopes for the competition is to take in and enjoy the whole experience. This is my first big international meet since the pandemic, so I'm very excited to be out there and be able to perform in front of a big crowd at this event,” says Spence. “I competed with a big team this year at NCAA, which allowed me to experience what it is like to have each other’s back and support no matter what. I think that's going to make me a good leader and teammate for Team Canada.”

Laurie Denommée recently captured three medals at the 2022 Cairo World Cup in Egypt. The strength, grace, and style required are key required elements of artistic gymnastics but beyond that, Denommée says the sport teaches each athlete and stays with you for life.

“I love my sport because it teaches you so many things,” says Denommée, “It can help you physically, mentally, socially, etc. I like the fact that you can fly in the air and I love the fact that it is a hard sport that most people cannot do.”

Jenna Lalonde, finished second during the Beam event finals during the 2021 Canadian Championships and is also the youngest member of Team Canada's artistic gymnastics' team. Lalonde has clear goals for her 2022 Commonwealth Games.  

“I’m looking to hit clean routines, enjoy the experience and help Team Canada win a medal,” says Lalonde.

The Artistic Gymnastics competition will take place at the Arena Birmingham from July 30 to August 2 with team and individual events, including qualification and final sessions. The Men’s Artistic Gymnastics competition will include eight events: rings, vault, pommel horse, horizontal bar, parallel bars, floor exercise, individual all-around, and team all-around. The Women’s Artistic Gymnastics competition will include six events: uneven bars, vault, balance beam, floor exercise, individual all-around, and team all-around.

CBC Sports will feature daily feeds of the sport competitions available on CBC Gem, cbcsports.ca and the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices. Check out https://www.cbc.ca/sports/commonwealthgames for details.