Gymnast inspires with her performance
Pictured above are Gymnastics Energy’s provincial athletes.
It wasn’t looking good for Claire Tirpko heading into Gymnastic Energy’s recent Chinese New Year meet.
The 13-year-old Thorold resident was battling stomach flu and a fever heading into the event, which also served as a provincial qualifier.
“I thought I was going to scratch the whole competition but then I pulled it off at the end,” she said. “I drank lots of water, my coach made me smell Essential Oils to help my stomach and I had a positive mindset.”
Competing in Level 6, Claire not only survived, she excelled. She placed second on the vault, bars and floor and third on the beam to place third all around. It was her best-ever result at a provincial qualifier.
“I was actually super happy because I didn’t think I would do that well,” the Grade 8 student at Monsignor Clancy said. “I was really happy with all my scores.”
Her performance certainly impressed Gymnastics Energy head coach Alexa Takacs.
“For her to come back and give such a good performance was very impressive and inspiring to everyone, including the younger kids,” she said. “It was a very good meet for her.”
Takacs credited Claire for her determination.
“She was sick the day before and leading up to the competition and she came in determined to compete even though she was not feeling 100 per cent.”
Takacs has seen a lot of improvement in Claire this season.
“She has overcome a few hurdles and bars and floor are starting to become a highlight for her,” she said. “Every competition there are things she can learn from and some mistakes still happen, but she’s very determined to fix them.”
Claire has been competing for the past three or four years and has qualified for the provincial championships every year. In 2019, she placed 13th all around in her first year at Level 6
“This is my second year doing it and I obviously have had more practice at this level,” she said. “I feel I can do better because I have been working on the skills for two years.”
That extra year is a big benefit.
“It is easier this year because now I know what to expect at provincials.”
She has clear goals in mind for her sport.
“I want to go Level 7 next year so I want to make sure I get all the skills I need,” she said. “And I want to have fun in my competitions and do well.”
She trains 16 hours a week and loves coming to the club.
“I like everything about it; being with my friends, getting new skills, working hard and having fun.”
While Claire is excelling a Level 6, beginning gymnasts are invited to attend the clubs pre competitive tryouts for ages 4 to 6 on March 29 at 2 p.m.
Following are complete Gymnastics Energy results from the Chinese New Year provincial qualifier meet:
Level 3 Age 11: Ruby Kirwin, 1st Vault, 3rd Bars, 2nd Beam, 1st Floor, 1st All around; Hannah Sellinger, 2nd Vault, 1st Bars, 4th Beam, 2nd Floor, 2nd All around
Level 3 Age 12: Minah Oatway, 3rd Vault, 5th Bars, 6th Beam, 2nd Floor, 5th All around.
Level 3 Age 9: Hannah Losier, 1st Vault, 2nd Bars, 3rd Beam, 2nd Floor, 2nd All Around; Ella Diemert, 7th Vault, 7th Bars, 4th Beam, 5th Floor, 7th All around
Level 4 Age 10: Alcina DiLorenzo, 7th Vault, 8th Bars, 6th Beam, 3rd Floor, 7th All around; Renae Stefels, 8th Vault, 9th Bars, 7Th Beam, 7th Floor, 8th All around; Kayleigh Hughes, 5th Vault, 3rd Bars, 6th Beam, 7th Floor, 7th All around
Level 4 Age 13: McKenna Stefels, 7th Vault, 1st Bars, 3rd Beam, 4th Floor, 3rd All around.
Level 4 Age 11: Khloe Rivera, 2nd Vault, 7th Bars, 1st Beam, 3rd Floor, 4th All around.
Level 4 Age 12: Avery Azzopardi, 2nd Vault, 5th Bars, 2nd Beam, 5th Floor, 4th All around; Dorothy Foulser, 2nd Vault, 2nd Bars, 1st Beam, 7th Floor, 2nd All around; Grace Lombarczki, 4th Vault, 5th Bars, 7th Beam, 3rd Floor, 6th All around.
Level 4 Age 14/15: Kairi Shaw, 5th Vault, 3rd Bars, 2nd Beam, 4th Floor, 4th All around.
Level 5 Age 14-plus: Kathryn Chapman, 6th Vault, 4th Bars, 4th Beam, 2nd Floor, 3rd All around; Cadence Savoie, 4th Vault, 2nd Bars, 5th Beam, 4th Floor, 3rd All around.
Level 5 Age 12: Francesca Maney, 2nd Vault, 6th Bars, 2nd Beam, 5th Floor, 4th All around; Hannah Fulton, 6th Vault, 5th Bars, 3rd Beam, 2nd Floor, 5th All around; Ashley Surman, 5th Vault, 1st Bars, 3rd Beam, 3rd Floor, 1st All around; Anna Keating, 3rd Vault, 3rd Bars, 1st Beam, 4th Floor, 3rd All around.
Level 5 Age 13: Clara Gretsinger, 6th Vault, 4th Bars, 4th Beam, 7th Floor, 6th All around; Paige Marion, 5th Vault, 2nd Bars, 3rd Beam, 6th Floor, 3rd All around; Rheagan Hamm, 4th Vault, 8th Bars, 2nd Beam, 3rd Floor, 4th All around.
Level 6 Age 13: Olivia Glasier, 5th Vault, 2nd Bars, 7th Beam, 8th Floor, 5th All around; Gemma Viola, 3rd Vault, 6th Bars, 1st Beam, 6th Floor, 3rd All around.
Level 6 Age 14: Jamie Orzel, 1st Vault, 4th Bars, 1st Beam, 3rd Floor, 1st All around; Claire Tirpko, 2nd Vault, 2nd Bars, 3rd Beam, 2nd Floor, 3rd All around; Grace Laffin, 4th Vault, 3rd Bars, 5th Beam, 5th Floor, 4th All around.
Level 6 Age 15-plus: Jordan Orzel, 1st Vault, 3rd Bars, 1st Beam, 2nd Floor, 1st All around; Joylynn Haymes, 4th Vault, 2nd Bars, 4th Beam, 3rd Floor, 2nd All around.
Level 7 Age 10: Kate Marsh, 1st Vault, 2nd Bars, 3rd Beam, 3rd Floor, 3rd All around.
Level 7 Age 13: Jorja Tallman, 3rd Vault, 3rd Bars, 3rd Beam, 3rd Floor, 4th All around.
Level 8 Age 15-plus: Elizabeth Baker, 1st Vault, 3rd Bars, 1st Beam, 1st Floor, 1st All around.
