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Bermuda Gymnastics Association coach Anna Balada was pleased with the performance at a big competition with top gymnasts.

Tse Burgess, who was competing at level 8 for the first time in an overseas competition, claimed first place overall. …

… Burgess was one of 15 gymnasts from Bermuda action in Florida and Balada was impressed, particularly with eight young members of the team competing at Xcel Silver level in their very first overseas competition.

Eva Wright gave a dazzling performance to clinch first place after finishing first on beam, second on bars and third on vault. Eira Wernbo also claimed a place on the podium after finishing second on beam, while Isobel Stones narrowly missed out when fifth in the vault competition.

There were also encouraging displays from McKenna Redcliffe, Aleia Mascarenhas, Chantal Cheng, Nicole Burrows and Cassandra Mayers. …

Elsewhere at level 7, Ajana Patton claimed a fourth-place finish on vault, while Sean Lawrence finished fifth on the floor. …

There was also strong showings from the remaining four gymnasts in the Xcel Gold Division.

Chief among them was Hayleigh Cherry who finished fourth overall, having claimed a third-place finish on the floor and a fourth on the beam. Maddie Bigley finished second on the bars, Helena Baille finished fourth on floor and Lexi Daniel did likewise on the vault on her way to a sixth-place finish overall. …

Tse Burgess steals show as Bermuda gymnasts star overseas

Coach Anna Balada heaped praise on her gymnastics squad after a stellar performance competing at the Daytona Beach Open.

Competing in their first overseas event in two years, the seven-strong squad made up of Ella Younie, Ella Newton, Ben Mello, Carina Bortoli, Kennedy Kowalski and Abby and Katie Adams produced some dazzling displays.

Leading the way was Newton, who finished an incredible third of 85 competitors in level 7 after claiming victory on the bars as well a second on the floor and third on the beam.

She was joined in level 7 competition by Younie, who enjoyed a notable second place on bars on her way to fourth place overall in her age category.

Mello, the only male competitor in the travelling party enjoyed a fantastic meet  …

Young gymnasts impress in first overseas meet for two years

The Gymnastics Federation of Bermuda is the official representative of Gymnastics sports to the FIG (International Gymnastics Federation) and the International Olympic Committee.

Bermudian gymnast Aria Divine has secured her second All-Around National Champion title at the Independent Gymnastics Association (IGA) Level 8 National Championship.

The 10-year-old, who began her gymnastics career at Bermuda Gymnastics Association (BGA) at the age of four, is now based in Oxford and is making a name for herself in the United Kingdom after moving to England with her family in 2018 and joining Miss Poppy’s Gymnastics club in 2020.

At the Level 8 National Championship at the Kingston Gymnastics Centre in Milton Keynes on Sunday, 4th December 2022 … Divine … secured two gold medals (beam and bars), one silver medal (floor) and one bronze medal (vault) …

Royal Gazette

Brian Le Roux:

“I can only applaud Simone for making that decision,” he said. “She must have been suffering for a while and it’s just become too much and too hard for her to cope. I think it was a well-thought-out decision and certainly not a spur-of-the-moment thing. …

… she has brought a greater awareness of mental health in gymnastics and sport to the world; that’s a huge thing I’m taking away from these Olympic Games,” added Le Roux, who has invited sports psychologists to speak to his gymnasts in the past about the importance of mental health awareness.

“To do that on the stage that she did sent out such a strong message. To do that on the world stage was so important and for her to be bold enough to do it was huge and sets a great example for other athletes. …”

Local gymnastics coach applauds decision by Simone Biles to put mental health struggles on the mat