Commonwealth Games medal-winning gymnasts have ties to Lethbridge

LETHBRIDGE SWIMMER RACHEL NICOL JUST MISSES QUALIFYING FOR 100 BREAST FINAL

Two members of Canada’s national gymnastics team who have deep roots in Lethbridge were medallists at the Commonwealth Games which are taking place in Gold Coast Australia.

Jackson Payne and Cory Paterson were members of Canada’s fivemember team which won the silver medal in the team competition. Paterson also won a silver medal in the horizontal bar.

Payne’s and Paterson’s mothers, Barb Wilde and Lynn Andrews, respectively, were high school friends who grew up in Lethbridge before going their separate ways. Both mothers were in the audience to see their sons win their medals.

Lynn married Allister Paterson and both went to LCI where they graduated in 1978 and 1979 respectively. They now live in Montreal where Cory, who is a longtime national team member, trains. Cory was captain of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA until his graduation last year.

Barb Wilde married Jack Payne and their reside in Edmonton. Jackson, who is married and lives in Calgary, is also a long-time national team member who has hopes of competing in the 2020 Olympics.

Meanwhile, Lethbridge swimmer Rachel Nicol just missed out qualifying for the finals in the 100metre breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games.

Nicol’s time in her semifinal heat was 1:08.67 for fifth place and just .13 seconds behind the fourth-place qualifier. Nicol swam 1:08.87 in her preliminary heat.

Nicol also placed fifth in her semifinal heat in the 50 breast with 31.87 seconds. She qualified for the semis with a swim of 31.54 seconds.