Local gymnasts making strides despite using subpar facilities

Fri, Dec 18th 2015, 07:47 PM

Bahamian gymnasts have made historic strides this year, competing in several high caliber events all around the world. However, unlike their counterparts, the local gymnasts have accomplished these feats using the bare minimum. Local gymnastics facilities are subpar at best compared to those used by some of the sport's top athletes, but despite the odds, The Bahamas Gymnastics Federation (BGF) had its most productive year since its inception.

Now, with more and more athletes gaining international exposure at a younger age, the federation is in a position to see an increased number of athletes competing at the collegiate and other high levels of gymnastics.

"When Al and Cinds Sharns (Atlantis Crown Gymnastics Invitational organizers) first visited us, we had two athletes that were attending the senior Pan Am Championships," said BGF head coach Trevor Ramsey. "If anyone is familiar with the clubs on the island, the facilities aren't as large and don't have as much equipment as other gyms.

"We approached her (Cindy) about training our kids at her gym for the championships and she welcomed us. Since, then we have taken the same two athletes (Simone Hall and Kianna Dean) to other high level competitions. What training over there really showed us was that with the right equipment, our athletes could do so much more, and now with this local opening, it's giving our kids a chance to show that raw potential."

Dean and Hall competed at the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in October. The event, the biggest gymnastics meet in the world, featured over 500 gymnasts. It also served as a qualifying tournament for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Dean made history in July when she became the first Bahamian gymnast to ever participate in the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada in July. Hall was also scheduled to compete at the games but was sidelined due to a knee injury.

In March, Hall competed in the New Jersey Regional Championships where she won medals in several events and recorded a number of personal bests. Both Dean and Hall were a part of the trio who competed for The Bahamas at last year's Sr. Pan American Championships in Mississauga, Canada. Toneka Johnson was the third member of that team.

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