Tsawwassen’s Ryan Woodhead has won a bronze medal in men’s artistic gymnastics at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer.
The Delta Gymnastics member finished third on the pommel horse during Thursday’s individual apparatus finals which concluded the gymnastics competition.
The 18-year-old added some new elements to his routine to help earn the podium position.
“I added a Russian D flop on the single handle today. I almost fell but I kept it together, had a great dismount and stuck the landing. My circle felt really good and my toes were pointed. I am going to celebrate tomorrow with some junk food and a cheat day,” smiled Woodhead.
He remembers being inspired by older athletes from his Ladner-based club who had the opportunity to attend the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
“I knew this was a huge event. I had some fellow athletes that trained at my gym that went to the Games four years ago. It’s so cool now that I am here. It really is so awesome,” he added.
Earlier in the week, Ladner’s Ella Rogers cracked the top 15 in the individual all-around event, placing 11th out of 36 athletes.
The 15-year-old trains out of Vancouver Phoenix Gymnastics. Rogers was third on the uneven bars at the 2018 Canadian Championships and also captured gold in the same event at Westerns.
In other sports, Amanda Mott has helped Team BC reach the bronze medal game in ringette. BC will be taking on Manitoba after falling to Ontario in Thursday’s semi-finals.
The Canada Games continue until March 2. Week two features alpine skiing, archery, badminton, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, women’s hockey, judo, snowboard and squash.
BC currently sits fourth in the medal standings with 26, including nine gold. Quebec is setting the pace with 80.
