Local gymnasts shine at nationals

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This article was published 25/07/2018 (2101 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two competitors from Flippers Gymnastics in Steinbach both came with gold medals in their respective divisions representing Manitoba at the Canadian Trampoline Gymnastics Championships at Lethbridge, AB, earlier this month.

Pierce Barlow from Steinbach and Isaiah Klassen from Niverville, who have both trained at Flippers Gymnastics for the past decade or so, put it all together in Lethbridge competing against athletes from across the country.

It was the second time for both of them competing for Team Manitoba at the national championships.

At Lethbridge, Barlow competed in three events and Klassen in four and both also competed in Team Finals.

Barlow captured gold in Double Mini Trampoline L5 17+, while Klassen took the gold in Double Mini Trampoline L5 17U and silver in Tumbling L5 16+.

They also brought home a bronze medal in Team Finals for Double Mini. It was the first time Team Manitoba has ever made it onto the podium for Team Finals as they were able to combine with Team Saskatchewan to make a full team.

And these guys are just warming up as they have a big year ahead which includes attempting to qualify for the Canada Games as well as competing in a big international competition in Portugal next summer.

Both Barlow and Klassen are also instructors at Flippers Gymnastics, currently helping out with the summer camps.

The boys are coached by Bonita Martens and Amanda Pierson. Martens says part of the reason for their success is “they are having fan with what they are doing” and Pierson says “they have worked very hard to get where they are now.”

The duo have criss-crossed the country over the past couple of years competing in various competitions and the goal looking ahead is to compete in a world championship.