Members of Swift Current Gelico Gymnastics travelled to Regina last weekend to represent the southwest at the Saskatchewan Winter Games. 

Swift Current’s Kayden Meyer and coach, Chantel Meyer, teamed up with members of Gymtastiks of Moose Jaw; Amara Cameron, Katelyn Sauer, Saige Buchanan, Jaylin Bevan, and coach, Lacey Smith, as Team Southwest, for the provincial competition. 

Although the team fell short of the podium, coach, Chantel Meyer said that it was a phenomenal experience for the athletes. 

“I think it's a great opportunity for the kids especially since it's kind of a once-in-a-lifetime for gymnastics, because the age categories and the levels we have to compete at only really come around once for them,” she explained. “So, once four years passes, they don't really get to go back to the games again because they're too old or they're past that level.  

“The girls that qualified to attend the games, I think they're pretty lucky and they worked really hard to be there.” 

The gymnasts qualified for the competition after attending trials in Regina back in November 2022. 

Meyer added that she was selected as a coach after submitting an application to Gymnastics Saskatchewan. 

Gymnasts on a beam

She also noted that the competition provided a new environment for herself and the athletes. 

“It was pretty fun and exciting,” the coach stated. “It's kind of cool to be with the best of Saskatchewan at competition, we don't ever get to compete for more than a day at a competition, we usually only have one session. So, to be able to compete for three days in a row, it was kind of a cool experience.” 

In the team event, the girls finished seventh overall. 

Kayden Meyer placed 24 out of 41 athletes in the individual competition. 

Buchanan finished 10th all-around and made the finals in the uneven bars and vault. She finished sixth in the uneven bars and seventh in the vault.  

Katelyn Sauer also made it to the vault finals and ended up finishing in eighth.