RICHMOND, B.C., Canada, April 11, 2014 – The USA won the team title at the 2014 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships at the Richmond (B.C., Canada) Olympic Oval. Aliya Protto of Culver City, Calif./California Rhythms, and Cindy Lu of Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora, captured the silver and bronze medals in the senior all-around, with Nastasya Generalova of Los Angeles, Calif./California Rhythms, and Ekatherina Kapitonova of Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora, finishing second and third in the junior all-around. Rhythmic gymnastics wraps up tomorrow with the event finals. Fans will be able to follow all of the action via a live webstream available through usagym.org.

All six U.S. gymnasts advanced to the event finals on Saturday morning: Aliya Protto of Culver City, Calif./California Rhythms, hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon; Cindy Lu of Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora, ball, clubs, ribbon; Valeriya Sharipova of Livingston, N.J./Independent, hoop; Nastasya Generalova of Los Angeles, Calif./California Rhythms, ball, clubs, ribbon; Ekatherina Kapitonova of Staten Island, N.Y./Isadora, hoop, ball, ribbon; and Brigita Budginas of Agoura Hills, Calif./Platinum Gymnastics Academy, hoop and clubs.

In the team competition, the USA won with 225.700 points. Canada was second at 213.600, and China finished third at 203.100. The gymnasts performed the clubs and ribbon routines today, and hoop and ball were competed yesterday.

 

In the senior all-around, Protto earned the silver medal with her 58.750 (14.250, clubs; 14.550, ribbon; 14.850, hoop; 15.100, ball). Lu’s 57.500 gave her the bronze medal (clubs, 14.850; ribbon, 13.700; hoop, 13.950; ball, 15.000). Valeriya Sharipova of Livingston, N.J./Independent, was fourth (55.000, AA; 14.050, clubs; 13.200, 13.200, ribbon; 14,600, hoop; 13.150, ball). Canada’s Patricia Bezzoubenko was first at 61.400.

Generalova claimed the silver in the junior all-around at 53.850 (14.150, clubs; 13.550; 12.950, hoop; 13.200, ball). Kapitonova was third at 51.900 (12.300, clubs; 13.350, ribbon; 13.400, hoop; 12.850, ball). In fourth was Brigita Budginas of Agoura Hills, Calif./Platinum Gymnastics Academy (51.750, AA; clubs, 13.750; 12.750, ribbon; 14.000, hoop; 11.450, ball). Yating Zhao of China was first with a 54.400.

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

  • 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.

In addition to the United States, the countries participating are: Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, Philippines and Singapore.

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.