FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup B
International Gymnix 2010
Montreal (CAN), March 5 – 7, 2010

MONTREAL (CAN) - LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, March 4, 2010: Canadian Olympic veterans Nathan Gafuik of Calgary and Ken Ikeda of Abbotsford, B.C., and their teammates Jackson Payne of Edmonton and Kevin Lytwyn of Stoney Creek, Ont., are looking to get the 2010 gymnastics season off to a flying start at a Men’s FIG World Cup meet in Montreal (CAN), March 5-7.

All four members of the Canadian squad looked sharp at the Elite Canada meet last weekend in Gatineau, Que., and are aiming for the podium in a field that includes a team from gymnastics powerhouse Japan.

Gafuik, who has one of the most difficult Horizontal Bar routines in the world and is also strong on Vault and Floor, is eager to ramp up his performance with an eye to making his third Olympic team in 2012.

“There was a bit of a let down after Beijing but we’ve all been working really hard since the fall and want to show what we can do,” said Gafuik, who won two medals at last year’s World Cup in Montreal.

“I’m excited about my Horizontal Bar routine, it’s finally starting to come together,” said Gafuik, a key figure on Canada’s rebuilding men’s team following the retirements of 2004 Olympic Champion Kyle Shewfelt, and three other members of the Beijing team.

Lytwyn, who picked up five individual event medals at Elite Canada, says he’s especially looking forward to the Montreal meet after getting knocked out last year with an injury.

“Everything is going well right now and I’m working on consistency in all my routines,” says Lytwyn, who is a contender on Horizontal Bar and Rings.

The men’s competition features individual event competitions only, with each country allowed two competitors per apparatus.

In addition to the World Cup meet, Canada’s top women gymnasts, both junior and senior, will also be in action this weekend. Among the competitors at the Gymnix International Cup for seniors are 2008 Olympian Nansy Damianova of Montreal, 2009 Canadian all around champion Sydney Sawa of Calgary and 2007 world team member Kristina Vaculik of Whitby, Ont.

(source: Gymnastics Canada / adapt. FIG)