The Road to Worlds: Gymnasts Who Shined at the Pan Ams

Courtesy of the Pan American Gymnastics Union

The year after the Olympics always features fresh faces at competitions between new senior elites and gymnasts entering the international stage for the first time as seniors. Three major competitions: the European Championships, Asian Championships, and Pan American Championships, give elite gymnasts international experience and high level competition ahead of the World Gymnastics Championships later in the year.

Last weekend, gymnasts from 24 countries across North and South America competed in the Pan American Championships. The United States, Canada, and Brazil, won gold, silver, and bronze, respectively, and were led by some new names.

Courtesy of the Pan American Gymnastics Union

The United States won 10 total medals in the women’s competition, and was highlighted by Jayla Hang, who medaled in every event. Hang won gold in the all-around, silver on bars, beam, and floor, and bronze on vault. Another notable performer for Team USA was Hezly Rivera, the Olympic champion and youngest American competitor in Paris last year. In her first international competition since the Olympics, Rivera won bronze in the all-around and on beam. Gabrielle Hardie, the 15-year-old in her first major competition as a senior, won gold on bars and bronze on floor. While the official standings won’t recognize it, it is important to note that Dulcy Caylor also put up a strong all-around performance with the fourth highest score, but was two-per-countried (could we please amend this rule?).

Courtesy of the Pan American Gymnastics Union

Canada’s young team had a lot of success at the Pan Ams. Team Canada had three of the top all-arounders, with Lia-Monica Fontaine winning silver, Gabrielle Black placing fourth, and Alyssa Guerrier-Calixte having the sixth highest all-around score (but was two-per-countried).

Fontaine also won gold on floor, silver on vault, and bronze on bars and Lia Redick became the balance beam champion.

Courtesy of the Federación Panameña Gimnasia

Karla Navas of Panama stuck out, literally! She won gold on vault in the event final, and her stuck Yurchenko 1.5 in the team final received the highest score on any event in the entire competition with a 14.600. Team Panama had a gymnast in every event final, competing in front of their home crowd in Panama City. In addition to Navas’ first place finish on vault, Ana Gutiérrez placed seventh on bars, Olympian Hillary Heron placed eighth on beam, and Navas had a fourth place finish on floor.

Courtesy of the Pan American Gymnastics Union

Argentina also had a gymnast in every event final, and had two of the top all-around performers, with Emilia Acosta and Isabella Ajalla placing fifth and sixth. Acosta placed sixth on vault, Ajalla placed fifth on bars while teammate Meline Mesropain placed sixth, Mesropian also placed sixth on beam, and Dolores Carregal placed sixth on floor and Ajalla placed eighth.

It’s always fun to see new faces in the international scene, and in the months leading up to the World Championships in October, gymnasts from the last quad could also make their return to elite competition. It will be exciting to see which gymnasts countries select to represent them at Worlds!