Canadian women win team gymnastics gold
Canada won gold Friday in the Commonwealth Games women’s artistic gymnastics team final.
Ellie Black of Halifax, Isabela Onyshko of Minnedosa, Man., Jade Chrobok of Toronto, Shallon Olsen of Surrey, B.C., and Brittany Rogers of Calgary finished ahead of runner-up England and Australia at Coomera Indoor Sports Centre.
It’s Canada’s first women’s team gymnastics gold at the Games since 1990.
The women had to watch England and Australia before finding out which medal they won.
“It was nerve-racking watching,” Black said. “These teams are so great. It’s an incredible feeling to know that we went out and did our job today, and I’m really proud of this team.”
Black and Onyshko were part of the Canadian team that narrowly missed the medal podium four years ago, finishing fourth in Glasgow.
Zach Clay of Coquitlam, B.C., Rene Cournoyer of Repentigny, Que., Scott Morgan of Vancouver, Cory Paterson of Montreal and Jackson Payne of Calgary won silver Thursday behind winner England and runner-up Scotland.
The Canadian men won bronze four years ago.
Daneesha Provo of the University of Utah and Michigan State’s Shay Colley each scored 14 points as Canada defeated England 80-54 on Friday for its
first basketball win at the Commonwealth Games.
Canada did not enter a men’s or women’s team in 2006, the only time basketball has figured on the Games schedule.
The Canadian men did not fare so well Friday, thumped 95-55 in Cairns by a more experienced Australian side. Canada is fielding a young men’s team comprised entirely of U Sports athletes. The Australians are missing their NBA talent and many European players, but do have domestic pros.
The Canadian women include university and overseas talent, as well as two high schoolers.
“This is our first game together
so we started slow, but toward the end we played well,” Colley said.
On the men’s side, University of Calgary guard Mambi Diawara, with 10 points, was the only Canadian to reach double figures against Australia.
Daniel Kickert, a guard who has played professionally in Australia, Italy, Spain, Poland and Ukraine, led the Boomers with 14 points. Four others scored in double figures with Brad Newley, a former Houston Rockets draft pick who plays in Spain, adding 12 points.
The Canadians were 5-of-24 from three-point range and went to the free throw line just four times.
“It was our first time playing together as a group,” said Ryerson guard Ammanuel Diressa. “Some of us have played internationally, but not all of us and not at this level.”
The Canadian men play Nigeria today while the women face Australia.
Canada’s hopes of a medal in men’s field hockey all but melted away under searing sunshine Friday as New Zealand romped to a 6-2 win in the tournament opener for both teams.
The Canadian men, ranked 11th in the world, had targeted the game against the ninth-ranked Black Sticks. Only two teams from each of the two pools advance and Canada’s group includes topranked Australia, which has won gold since the sport was introduced to the games in 1998.
“It makes this tournament really tough for us,” said Canada coach Paul Bundy. “We have to then go ahead and win two games and try and get a result against the No. 1-ranked country in the world to get into that crossover game for a medal.”
Dane Lett, Nic Woods, Kane Russell, Stephen Jenness, Hugo Inglis and George Muir scored for New Zealand. Gordon Johnston and James Kirkpatrick replied for Canada.
A senior Canadian team official says a weightlifter facing criminal charges related to a hit and run back home is eligible to compete at the Gold Coast Games because he has not been convicted of a crime.
Boady Santavy, a 20-year-old from Sarnia, Ont., is slated to compete Sunday in the 94-kilogram division.
Santavy was charged with failing to remain at the scene of collision after turning himself in, a news release from Sarnia police dated March 19 says. He was released on a promise to appear in court.
“He was charged. We were fully aware of that,” says Commonwealth Games Canada president Rick Powers.
“He hasn’t been convicted of anything. He’s been charged and the presumption of innocence prevails,” he adds. “And he is still a member of Team Canada.”