Canadians aim higher with medals in reach
Commonwealth sensation Bezzoubenko sitting sixth
Say you’re a rabid hockey fan — profighting, rock ’em sock ’em kind of guy. Maybe you have some free time Friday, so you wander over to Ricoh Coliseum and notice it’s now called Toronto Coliseum.
Entranced by the gentle piano, orchestral ensembles and electro-infused salsa, you amble into the arena. Inside you find young women swirling ribbons of satin into fluid and enchanting shapes. You gasp as hula hoops and canteloupe-sized balls are tossed several metres in the air, then caught with an outstretched foot or in the small of an athlete’s back. Their movements, elegant and swift, are smooth as running water.
But this is harder than it looks. That’s what American teen Laura Zeng wants to tell people who aren’t familiar with the blend of creativity and athleticism that is rhythmic gymnastics.
“It really is. There are so many deeper intricacies,” said Zeng, 15, explaining how competitors must be expressive, synchronized with the music, strong and flexible to succeed.
“I just want (people) to know how beautiful and unique the sport is,” she said.
Zeng (17th in the world) and teammate Jasmine (Jazzy) Kerber (32nd) are the highest ranked competitors at the Pan Am Games, in a sport dominated by Russians. After the first day of individual qualifiers, the Americans were 1-2 overall followed by Brazilian Angelica Kviecynski.
The top-seeded Canadian, Patricia Bezzoubenko, was disappointed in her performance. Born in Vancouver, the 18-year-old trains in Russia six months a year with the best rhythmic gymnastics program in the world, which has produced the past four all-around Olympic champions. Bezzoubenko, ranked 37th in the world, hauled home five golds and a bronze from the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland.
On this day she fumbled the hoop in her first routine, and was penalized when it briefly went outside the red boundary of the performance mat. She placed ninth and failed to qualify for the final in that category.
Bezzoubenko regrouped for a solid ball routine, placing third, and her combined scores have her sitting sixth overall — within reach of the podium if she performs well in clubs and ribbon qualifying on Saturday.
“Nervous,” Bezzoubenko said after performing in front of the home crowd. “I’ve done mistakes, but I’ll try to destroy all of it tomorrow and just stay calm and show my best. . . . We have three more days, so I think it’s okay.”
Carmen Whelan, a 16-year-old from Aurora, was more enthused about her results: fifth in hoop, sixth in ball. She heads into Saturday fifth overall.
“They always say that the crowd is energizing, and when it’s your home country it’s a bit of an advantage,” said Whelan. “It uplifted me.”
Canada sits last after the five-member team finished fifth in the ribbons rotation. Brazil was first, followed by the U.S. and Cuba.
Saturday’s qualifiers start at 11 a.m.