Yukon gymnasts gather inspiration from Olympic gymnastics finals

Some of Yukon’s top gymnasts gathered at the Polarettes Gymnastics Club to watch the Paris 2024 women’s all-around gymnastics finals. (Tori Fitzpatrick/CBC)

By Asad Chishti, RCI, CBC News

Top gymnasts gathered at Whitehorse gymnastics club to watch Canada’s Ellie Black compete

Last week, six young gymnasts huddled around a laptop at a gym in Whitehorse watching every move of the 2024 Olympic gymnasts as they competed in Paris.

The Canadian Olympian Ellie Black placed sixth in the women’s all around gymnastics final on Thursday in Paris, while Team U.S.A.’s Simone Biles placed first.

While there aren’t any Yukoner’s representing Canada in Paris 2024 for gymnastics, the territory’s next generation of athletes is finding inspiration in watching their role models compete on the international stage.

“Maybe one day you could be doing that and [also] be on TV,” gymnast Julianna Kennedy said.

As the girls watched intently, they asked coach Bianca Berko-Malvasio questions about each Olympian’s technique and execution. Even Simone Biles, who went on to win her sixth Olympic gold medal in the competition, was deducted points during her routines.

“We’ve learned a lot more about [Biles] this year,” said Genevieve Lefebvre, one of the gymnasts.

To see Biles on a closer level and also capable of mistakes was very humanizing, she added.

The Polarettes have met Ellie Black, who is representing Canada, at a gymnastics competition and are now witnessing her continue to make history with Team Canada. For the girls, being able to relate to the best gymnasts in the world helps them understand how to make their own dreams a reality.

“They’re inspiring as people, not just as gymnasts,” said Alayna Mortimer, another gymnast.

Getting to the national level

Olympians like Biles and Black are breaking barriers beyond the gym by shifting the cultural aspects for a new generation of gymnasts, said coach Berko-Malvasio.

“They see the power and people expressing themselves in different ways and there’s lots of different floor routines and people are using new skills and there’s so much diversity,” she said. “Yes, they all are beautiful in their gymnastic suits, but they all have a different style and it shows these guys that they can kind of represent themselves how they want to.”

After watching their heroes at the Olympics, the Polarettes took to the bars for their practice. Berko-Malvasio spotted each gymnast as they practiced, reminding them to keep their feet in sight as they swung around the bar.

While they are the top gymnasts in the territory, meeting the standards of other Canadian gymnasts is challenging with rare travel opportunities, Berko-Malvasio said.

“They don’t get to watch higher levels and they don’t see that standard and that quality,” she said.

“But they’re doing a good job, they do have goals and I’ve seen lots of improvements … And I think that if they do work hard enough and they continue to push themselves … they can get to the national level.”

For the girls, however, gymnastics means much more than competing at the highest level.

“We’ve been in this club for so long, it almost feels like home,” Mortimer said. “It’s like a family.”