MOVING ON
Halifax gymnast advances in all-around and beam
Canada’s Ellie Black celebrates her performance on the balance beam at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday. The Halifax gymnast placed sixth on the beam during team competition to qualify for the final Aug. 3. Black also qualified for the all-around final Thursday.
The Canadian women's gymnastics team came up short in its bid to advance to the team final at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday.
Ellie Black, Shallon Olsen, Brooklyn Moors and Ava Stewart earned 160.964 points to place 10th overall. Only the top eight teams advance to the final.
The Canadian foursome was in eighth place following their subdivision, but both Belgium and Germany passed them in the final grouping. Belgium placed fifth with 163.895 points while Germany posted 161.162.
Black, the team leader, said there were some ups and downs on Sunday for the Canadian women.
“Today was a bit of a rough go, but some really good things,” said the 25-year-old Haligonian. “It's really tough coming to the Olympics after a year and a half with not competing in person.
“I think for us, it was really just getting out there and showing what we could do. Trying are absolute best, which we did, and I'm proud of us. I think we are all very proud of that.”
Moors and Black (Halifax) both qualified for all-around final. Moors was 22nd at 53.966 while Black was 24th at 53.699. The top 24 advance, with a maximum two gymnasts per country, to the all-around final.
Black, who revealed she was coming off an ankle injury, said she wasn't totally satisfied with her performance, but was confident the issues could be fixed ahead of Thursday's (7:50 a.m.) all-around final.
“Obviously my all-around performance wasn't exactly how I wanted it, but I'm also coming off an ankle injury and I actually didn't know if I could compete a few weeks ago,” said Black, in a Gymnastic Canada releaase. “That being said I'm proud of what I was able to do and I know I can do better. Just need to make some improvements and make some of those improvements on that day.”
Black qualified for the balance beam final with her sixth place finish (14.1 points) while Olsen was sixth in vault (14.699). The top eight advance to the final. The beam final is on Tuesday, Aug. 3.
Black finished 12th on vault, 63rd on floor and 54th on uneven bars.
The Russian Olympic Committee leads the team competition with 171.329 points, while the United States is next at 170.562 and China third at 166.863.
Brittany Fraser-beaulieu with All In turned in a stellar effort on Sunday in the dressage competition.
The New Glasgow native, who now lives in Saint-bruno, Que, and her 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding impressed the judges with his expression in movements such as the extended trot and tempi changes.
The combination's consistency and presence led to a final score of 71.677% from the judges.
As the Grand Prix format was broken down into six groups, no overall placings were awarded.
The 32-year-old FraserBeaulieu said All In was on top of his game.
"I think it was the best Grand Prix I've had to date,” said Fraser-beaulieu. “I'm glad it chose to be this day. All In was spectacular in there, he went in and did his very best for me. He handled my nerves so well. I felt like the moment he went down centerline he settled in and he knows his job so well. It was an incredible experience for both of us: It wasn't my best score, but the feeling I had underneath me was amazing, so that's all I can ask for.”
The Canadian team that included Lindsay Kellock (Toronto) and Chris von Martels (Ridgetown, Ont.) placed 11th overall in team competition but did not advance to the Grand Prix Special.
BOXING
Kennetcook's Wyatt Sanford lost 5-0 to Merven Clair of Mauritius in the preliminary round of the men's welterweight division on Saturday.
The judges scored the fight (30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 29-28, 30-27) for Clair.
SOFTBALL
Canada will play for a bronze medal after a heart-breaking, extra-inning 1-0 loss to Japan on Sunday.
Japan's Eri Yamada slapped a single to centre field to bring home the lone run of the game and drop Canada to third place in the standings.
Mark Smith of Falmouth is the head coach of the Canadian team, that will play the winner of Monday's Australia-mexico game for bronze on Tuesday.
Japan and the United States will play for gold on Tuesday.