Olympic gymnast Kristina Vaculik and coach Elena Davydova work out in Oshawa, Ont. Thursday, April 26/2012.Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail
Kristina Vaculik made a very convincing case for selection to Canada's Olympic artistic gymnastics team by winning her third all-around national championship on Thursday.
The 19-year-old native of Whitby, Ont. has dominated the Canadian Gymnastics Championships in Regina this week as she vies to earn one of five spots on the Canadian women's team heading to London this summer. She led all competitors after Tuesday's qualifying round and didn't relinquish that lead on Thursday in the senior all-around final. Dominique Pegg of Sarnia, Ont. and Victoria Moors of Cambridge, Ont. tied for second place.
Canadian Olympic gold medalist Kyle Shewfelt Tweeted about Vaculik's routine on uneven bars: "Nailed routine. Best geinger in the world? I think one of them." The Geinger is a unique skill performed above the bar.
Results from the Canadian championships will help determine a group of gymnasts to attend a final Olympic team selection meet at the end of June in Gatineau, Que.
Nathan Gafuik of Calgary won the men's all-around title, which gives him a push toward Canada's single Olympic spot for a man in artistic gymnastics. Jayd Lukenchuk was second (83.75), and Robert Watson third (81.95). Gafuik was a member of Canada's 2004 and 2008 Olympic teams.
Rachel Brady