Canadian artistic gymnasts added six more medals including three gold to their total as individual apparatus competitions got underway Monday at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Here’s a breakdown of the medal parade for Canada:
René Cournoyer (floor- silver – The 29-year-old from Repentigny, Que., got Canada started with a silver medal on the floor. His score of 13.966 placed him behind England’s Luke Whitehouse (14.566) but ahead of Australian James Hardy (13.433). “It’s just amazing,” Cournoyer said. “Ending up with a medal is everything I could have asked for.” Felix Dolci of Laval, Que., silver medallist in the all-around, finished fourth by 0.2.
Lia-Monica Fontaine (vault - gold) – The 16-year-old from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que., added a gold medal in the women’s vault, scoring an even 14 to hold off England’s Abigail Martin (13.799) and Abigail Roper of Wales (13.433). Fontaine – who helped the team to silver Saturday and added individual all-around bronze Sunday – completed her medal set. “I’m really happy to be representing Canada and winning three medals is incredible.”
Jordan Carroll (pommel horse - gold) – Not to be outdone, the fellow rookie followed up with a gold of his own in the pommel horse, his specialty. Carroll combined the toughest difficulty in the field (6.0) with a 9.0 execution mark to hit the lofty score of 15.0. “Breaking the 15 mark, it’s been a goal of mine and I’m glad I could finally do it. I did the routine of my life, I’m happy with the result and I’m feeling great right now,” said the 20-year-old from Saskatoon.
Ellie Black (uneven bars - silver) Fresh off her all-around gold from Sunday, the veteran from Halifax took silver in the women’s uneven bars with a score of 13.90, behind only Kate McDonald of Australia (14.333). It’s the third silver medal of the Games for Black and her ninth overall across three Commonwealth Games, although first ever in the uneven bars. “I’m pleased that it went well and I was able to end on the podium for Canada. I think you just have to take gratitude in every single moment that you have to be able to do this because it is so special,” said Black, 30.
Felix Dolci/William Émard (rings – Gold and Silver) – Lifelong friends Felix Dolci and William Émard of Laval, Que., saved the best for last, going 1-2 on the men’s rings. Dolci had an inspiring silver in the all-around Sunday but fell short of gold due to falling from the pommel horse twice. He then just missed a medal in the individual floor with another stumble. This time he kept the gold medal in his grasp with a score of 13.766. “I fail many times in my life, nonstop. I fail every single day in training. That’s something I’m used to. Whether you succeed or you fail, the next time you go up in the event, the goal is to do even better every single time,” said the 24-year-old. Émard was the first man on the rings and his score of 13.60 stood at the top of the results board until Dolci went seventh of the eight competitors. “I’m super proud of myself,” said Émard, 26. “I’m really happy for Canada, one and two on rings, we really showed that we can step up in any event.”
The five-day competition wraps up with more apparatus finals Tuesday. Dolci will take on the vault, Black and Fontaine the balance beam, Émard and Dolci the parallel bars, Fontaine and Lia Redick of Oakville, Ont., the floor exercise, and finally Émard and Dolci on the horizontal bar.
Photo Credit: Antoine Saito for Gymnastics Canada