2009 International Gymnix FIG World Cup B in Artistic Gymnastics
March 6 – 8, 2009, Montreal (CAN)

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, February 25, 2009: The FIG 2009 Artistic Gymnastics World Cup season will start in Montreal (CAN) with the International Gymnix FIG World Cup B Tournament. The Claude Robillard Sports Complex is the venue for the event.

The first of the 2009 – 2012 Olympic Cycle, this tournament will be an interesting one for many reasons, chief among which is the unveiling of the circuit gymnasts. With the disclosure of Marian Draculescu’s (ROU) retirement and veteran Andrey Kriukov’s (RUS) new career, some are beginning to wonder which gymnasts, old or new, will be competing.

Participants

In the Men’s competition line-up is 2005 World Champion and 2006 and 2007 Silver medallist on Horizontal Bar Aljaz Pegan (SLO). Also registered is 2008 Olympic Silver medallist and winner of the 2008 World Cup Final in Madrid (ESP), Thomas Bouhail from France on Vault. On Pommel Horse, spectators can look forward to taking in the performances of Croatian Robert Seligman, who ranked 5th on the FIG Ranking List of the past Olympic Cycle and Hungarian Berki Krisztian, Silver medallist in Madrid.

Canada Gymnastics and its CEO Jean-Paul Caron have the expertise required to host the discipline’s international elite, and are sure to spur their gymnasts to a place on the podium. The young Brittany Rogers comes to mind, an up and coming star who won the first Individual All-around at the Elite Canada 2008 competition. Keep an eye on her!

Austrian champion Barbara Gasser, who has been training in Canada since 2003, has also signed up for the event. Gasser aims to participate at the European and World Championships this year.

Venue

The venue is a multi-purpose sporting facility made up of two buildings: The Michel Normandin Arena and the main building itself. The World Cup will be held in the omni-sport gymnasium, an indoor track & field and tennis gymnasium (field house) that will be converted into a gymnastics competition area. The venue has a seating capacity of approximately 5,000 spectators.

More tournament details including the nominative entries can be found online in the FIG World Cup Series section.

Bonus

In the 17th century, a young Norman (FRA) by the name of Claude Robillard made a new life for himself in New France, near Montreal (CAN), when he cleared and tilled the ground, cultivated, erected buildings and innovated. Through courage and tenacity, he earned for himself the admiration and gratitude of his colleagues. An avenue in Old Montreal and the Sport Complex both bear his name as witness to his greatness.