2.23.2023
|
BY
Doug Gallant
Evstigneev Wins First Ever Gold in Gymnastics for N.L.
Taking home a gold medal from the Canada Winter Games is the ultimate goal for Canada’s next generation of athletes. For many, it will be a goal out of reach, but for 18-year-old Gleb Evstigneev, the dream of taking a gold medal back home to Newfoundland and Labrador became reality Wednesday evening when he performed two flawless routines in the individual male trampoline competition.
Evstigneev, who comes from Paradise, scored a 55.03 in his first routine, and a 56.02 in his second for a combined score of 111.05. He won by a wide margin, with competitors from Quebec and British Columbia finishing second and third respectively.
Evstigneev noted the routine he did wasn’t the one he originally planned to do. “I had to change a few skills, had to downgrade it a little bit. But when I finished it, I knew it was clean, I knew I was jumping high, and I still felt good about it. I would have been happy to walk away with any other medal or even just knowing that I had done the best I could.”
Evstigneev, who moved to Newfoundland and Labrador from Germany in 2010, was happy to win the first gold medal in Gymnastics for his home province. "It's a huge rush, a roller-coaster of emotions," he said in a statement issued by Team N.L. "I wasn't sure how I'd do when I stepped on the trampoline. I was nervous, my legs were shaking. I got on, I did my best, and it was good enough apparently. I'm just really happy to be here. It feels surreal.”
He observed that during the last Canada Games people didn’t even realize Newfoundland and Labrador had a trampoline team. “Just knowing that and performing the way I did it was a great feeling. I was really proud to represent my province. Everybody from Newfoundland was in the stands. I saw people from wheelchair basketball, curling, hockey, squash, and all the other sports. They were all cheering for me so I’m really happy I didn’t let them down. The whole experience was great.” His mother Marta was also there to cheer him on.
Evstigneev noted he had a rough go the last couple of competitions but this time he reminded himself that this was for fun and that he was not going to lose his job if things didn’t go well for him.
This is the second Canada Games for Evstigneev who is a senior member of the Gymnastics Newfoundland Canada Winter Games team. At the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer he placed 5th overall in a field of 18 competitors.
A pivotal member of Campia Gymnastics and the trampoline community in Newfoundland and Labrador he was selected as part of the trampoline teams that represented Canada at the World Age Group Competition in Sofia, Bulgaria this past November.
His selection for that team was the result of a first place finish at the 2022 Elite Canada competition. As a result of his sheer determination and hard work he has been named to the Gym Can Developmental Team for 2023-2024. Even before his medal win Wednesday evening, this had been a good week for Evstigneev. He was chosen to be the Flagbearer for the province in the Canada Games Opening Ceremony.
The next stop for him is an Elite Canada competition in March. He follows that up with the Junior Pan American Games in Mexico in May, followed in turn by the Canadian National Championships.
After 16 incredible days, the 29th edition of the Canada Games will officially conclude tonight with the Closing Ceremony from Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown at 7:30 PM AST.
There have been records smashed and countless debuts made by athletes here at the 2023 Canada Games, but yesterday, history was made when female boxing got underway on P.E.I.
Curling in Canada is rich in history, with the first curling club established in Montreal in 1807. This morning, 216 years later, another first in Canadian curling history took place as Mixed Doubles Curling made its Canada Games debut at the Montague Curling Club.
.jpg)
Women’s hockey at the Canada Games returns to P.E.I. where it made its original debut in 1991. In the tournaments since then, numerous Canadian hockey idols have laced up and begun their glorious careers at the Canada Games.
In just six contests this Winter Games, McKenna recorded 29 points including 14 goals, smashing a Canada Games record that stood for 28 years. The previous record for points in a tournament was 27, set by Francois Methot of Quebec in 1995 and tied by Kelsey Tessier of New Brunswick in 2007.
With the PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games officially underway, the Canada Games Council (CGC) and the 2023 Host Society are thrilled to celebrate the nation’s top young athletes and their families and friends with the launch of Canada Games House, presented by Canadian Tire.
Let the Games begin! Reminiscent of an Island kitchen party, the athletes were all smiles and a capacity crowd was brought to its feet during the Opening Ceremony of the PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games.
%20(1).jpg)
After many years of planning, the town of North Rustico reached a historic milestone today with the opening of Eliyahu Wellness Centre at Canada Games Place.
The PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games Host Society is ready to give a warm Maritime welcome to over 3,600 athletes, managers and coaches as they descend on PEI’s friendly shores for the 29th edition of the Canada Games.
It’s only fitting that boxing occurred during Week Two of this year’s Canada Winter Games, coinciding with Women’s History Month, which runs the month of March.
Team Alberta’s figure skater, Lia Cho, is this year’s youngest athlete at Canada Winter Games. She is only 10 years old and stands just over four rulers high.
For the first time in Canada Games history, medals will be awarded in mixed doubles curling. The event made its historic debut this week at the Montague Curling Club.
On day 13 of the 2023 Canada Winter Games, the host province, Prince Edward Island, landed on the podium for the first time. Lucas Macdonald of Stratford, claimed the silver medal in the Men’s +81 kg Judo division Thursday afternoon.
Chants of “Novaaa Scotiaaa” echoed throughout Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre in Charlottetown as proud fans watched Ritu Shah and Thomas Ashton add two silver medals to Team Nova Scotia’s growing medal count.
When people speak of the legacy of the 2023 Canada Winter Games the conversation usually focuses on two things, the lifelong memories people take away from the Games and the new sports facilities the Games leave behind.
At the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alberta’s Evelyn Beaton took home a gold medal for the individual female - 44 kg Judo division.
Sport and competition often draw metaphoric comparisons to life. For PEI’s Crawford family, it’s remarkable how a sport with a tiny target has brought life’s bigger picture into clear view.Sport and competition often draw metaphoric comparisons to life. For PEI’s Crawford family, it’s remarkable how a sport with a tiny target has brought life’s bigger picture into clear view.
Sporting bright green and blue uniforms, the PEI 2023 volunteers are a dedicated and committed group, intent on making sure the Games provide the best possible experience for the young athletes representing their respective provinces and territories.