RICHMOND, B.C., Canada, April 10, 2014 – The U.S. men won the team title at the 2014 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships at the Richmond (B.C., Canada) Olympic Oval. John Orozco of the Bronx, N.Y./Team Hilton HHonors (U.S. Olympic Training Center), won the senior all-around gold medal, and Marty Strech of Fountain Valley, Calif./Azarian U.S. Gymnastics Training Center, and Alec Yoder of Indianapolis, Ind./InterActive Academy, tied for second in the junior all-around. Competition continues tomorrow with the final day of individual rhythmic gymnastics all-around and team competition and the junior men’s and women’s event finals. Fans will be able to follow all of the action via a live webstream available through usagym.org.

In individual rhythmic gymnastics, the USA is ranked first in the team competition after the first two of four events. At the halfway point, the team scores are: USA, 113.250; Canada, 107.700; and China, 99.800.

In the men’s team competition, the USA garnered 338.550 to successfully defend its team title. Japan was second at 333.550, followed by Canada at 326.400.

“We are known for our heart and we showed it today,” said Chris Brooks of Houston/Team Hilton HHonors (Cypress Gymnastics), the team’s captain. “It was a hard fought competition, and we had some mistakes along the way. Team USA’s spirit is that we don’t give up. We fought hard and came out with a win, and that’s what matters.”

Orozco won the senior men’s title with a total of 87.200. Japan’s Toshiya Ikejiri and Yuto Murakami finished second (85.050) and third (84.900), respectively. Japan’s Kakeru Tanigawa earned the junior all-around, scoring an 82.700. Strech and Yoder tied for second at 80.400.

“Winning the all-around is always a great accomplishment,” said Orozco. “There are a lot of good guys here from the other countries. I was not extremely happy with some of my performances, but we did well as a team. I didn’t know some of the juniors before this meet, but they did a great job, and we pulled together as a team.”

Both Alex Naddour of Gilbert, Ariz./Team Hilton Honors (USA Youth Fitness Center) (84.100), and Davis Grooms of Katy, Texas/Champions Gymnastics (79.600), finished fourth, and Brooks was sixth (81.300).

The men started on pommel horse. Naddour tallied the team’s highest score with a 15.000. Orozco’s 14.100 was the USA’s second highest, followed by Yoder at 13.900. The other scores were: Grooms, 13.750; Brooks, 13.350; and Strech, 12.450. The team’s event score was 56.350.

 

For still rings, Orozco’s 15.050 was the team’s top mark. Naddour scored at 14.950, followed by Brooks at 14.550. Other scores were: Grooms, 13.200; Strech, 13.550; and Yoder, 13.700. The team’s total was 58.250.

For vault, Brooks delivered at 14.750. Strech was next at 14.000, with Yoder at 13.950. The other scores were: Grooms, 13.400; Orozco, 13.000; and Naddour, 12.650. The team score was 55.700.

Orozco and Naddour secured the USA’s top scores on parallel bars, with a 14.750 and 14.350, respectively. The remaining scores were: Strech, 13.500; Grooms, 13.300; Brooks, 12.150; and Yoder, 12.100. The team posted a 55.900 for the event.

Orozco also had the best score for the horizontal bar, earning a 15.400. Brooks posted a 14.750. The rest of the scores were: Naddour and Yoder, 13.500; Strech, 13.000; and Grooms, 12.600. The team score was 56.650.

The USA wrapped up the night on the floor exercise. Strech led the USA on the event and racked up the team’s second highest score at 13.900. Orozco notched a 14.900 for the top mark. The other scores were: Naddour, 13.650; Grooms, 13.350; and Yoder, 13.250. Brooks, who strained his Achilles on a short landing, earned an 11.750. The team’s floor exercise score was 55.700.

Individual rhythmic gymnastics will complete its all-around competition on Saturday. After two of four events in the all-around, all of the U.S. gymnasts are in the top four in the respective all-around competitions.

The senior event and all-around totals so far are: Aliya Protto of Culver City, Calif./California Rhythms, second in the all-around at 29.950 (14.850, hoop; 15.100, ball); Cindy Lu of Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora, third in the all-around at 28.950 (13.950, hoop; 15.000, ball); Valeriya Sharipova of Livingston, N.J./Independent, fourth in the all-around at 27.750 (14.600, hoop; 13.150, ball).

The junior scores at the halfway point are: Ekatherina Kapitonova of Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora, second in the all-around at 26.250 (13.400, hoop; 12.850, ball); Nastasya Generalova of Los Angeles, Calif./California Rhythms, third in the all-around at 26.150 (12.950, hoop; 13.200, ball); and Brigita Budginas of Agoura Hills, Calif./Platinum Gymnastics Academy, fourth in the all-around at 25.450 (14.000, hoop; 11.450, ball).

Earlier today, the U.S. Junior National Group won the all-around and 10 clubs silver medal, along with the five hoops bronze. The members of the U.S. Junior Group are: Yelyzaveta Merenzon of Buffalo Grove, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center; Elina Nikerina of Deerfield, Ill./North Shore Rhythmic Gymnastics Center; Sophia Popova of Minneapolis, Minn./Twin Cities Rhythmic; Emily Rakhnyansky of Brooklyn, N.Y./MatchPoint; Nicole Sladkov of Vernon Hills, Ill./M & N Rhythmic Academy; and Nicky Wojtana of Plano, Texas/Texas Rhythmic Academy.

The remaining competition schedule is listed below, and each of these sessions will have a live webstream, provided by ViaSport Productions in partnership with Gymnastics BC and Gymnastics Canada, that has a separate feed for each apparatus. ViaSport also plans to archive each participant’s routines. The legend for the abbreviations used below is: WAG=women’s artistic gymnastics; MAG=men’s artistic gymnastics; RG-rhythmic gymnastics; TG=trampoline. The USA is competing in women’s gymnastics, men’s gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics.

Friday, April 11

  • 9 a.m.-12 p.m. – RG: team and AA, ribbon & club, subdivision 1
  • 1-4:15 p.m. – RG: team and AA, ribbon & club, subdivision 2 (includes USA)
  • 6-9 p.m. – TG: Individual & team, team awards
  • 6-9:30 p.m. – MAG & WAG: Junior event finals & awards

Saturday, April 12

  • 9 a.m.-1 p.m. – RG: junior and senior event finals & awards
  • 2:30 p.m.-6 p.m. – MAG & WAG: senior event finals & awards; TG: finals & awards

Tickets are still available for the championships with some sessions sold-out or with limited availability. All tickets can be purchased on line at www.pacificrimchamps.eventbrite.com.

The 2014 Pacific Rim Championships are hosted by Gymnastics Canada and Gymnastics BC. The Pacific Rim Championships (known as the Pacific Alliance Championship until 2008) were last held in Canada in 2002 in Burnaby. Recent hosts include Honolulu in 2004 and 2006; San Jose, Calif., in 2008; Melbourne, Australia, in 2010; and Everett, Wash., in 2012. At the past four summer Olympics, Pacific Rim countries have combined for a total of 101 gymnastics Olympic medals including 37 gold. For more detailed information, go to www.pacificrimchamps.com.

The webstream is provided by ViaSport Productions. ViaSport Productions is the catalyst behind increasing the exposure, recognition and power of amateur-level sport across British Columbia. As the broadcast arm of ViaSport, the organization responsible for the growth and development of BC’s amateur sport sector, the goal driving ViaSport Productions is to bring a range of online sport programming – live-streamed event coverage, interviews, commentary and more – into every home across the province. Share your event with the world: apply to have your event live-streamed by ViaSport Productions. Visit www.viasport.ca/viasport-productions to learn more.