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TEEN GYMNAST WINS BIG AT PROVINCIAL COMPETITION

BRILEE SEARS bsears@metroland.com

More than nine years of hard work culminated with a massive achievement for Fort Erie gymnast Zoe Zimmerman.

The 15-year-old placed first in her division during the Ontario Gymnastic Championships and then, days later, finished fourth overall in her division after two days of competition at the 2022 Canadian Artistic Gymnastic Championships.

"I'm really happy with how I did. Like, there's definitely things that I could have done better, but just being there is a huge accomplishment," said Zoe.

She isn't one to talk up her accomplishments, but her mom Sabrina Zimmerman happily will, saying how proud she is of everything her daughter has accomplished.

"We were just extremely proud of her hard work and ... her dedication to the sport, just how much she loves it," Sabrina said about the fourth place overall finish.

During an average week, Zoe will train upwards on 25 hours at her gym, Quantum Niagara, in Niagara Falls. She leaves school early every Thursday and Friday, training for hours before going back in on the weekend to train even more.

"I love the hard work that you have to put in. And I like how once you achieve something, it just feels so good, so amazing," she added.

Before any major competition like this one, Zoe has a routine that helps her get prepared and get ready to take the floor.

"In the morning I normally take a bit of time to prepare ... I listen to motivational music to be pumped up. And then once we get to the area I kind of watch my routines and go through the motions," she explained.

Zoe competes in four events, including vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor routines. When asked about a favourite skill or competition, Zoe said she enjoys them all, but does sometimes have a preference for the uneven bars.

"I love all the skills I do. I love the challenge and everything," said Zoe. "But probably the bars, with my shoot over and double back."

Sabrina said she is incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication her daugh

ter put into the sport, especially during the past two years of COVID.

"You know, she never gave up through everything, even though the lockdowns," said Sabrina. "She would train here at home for five hours straight and just really kept her focus, even if there was no end in sight."

Sabrina said it was also wonderful to watch Zoe at the Ontario Championships, where Zoe achieved an all-time personal best score in addition to placing first in the province.

"It wasn't so much being first in Ontario. It was really competing against herself and working hard to accomplish that. As for Nationals, that was, you know, a bonus. We really didn't know that she would make it that far," added Zoe's mom.

In addition to placing fourth in the country individually, Zoe participated as part of Team Ontario during group competition. Team Ontario took home first place.

Zoe says she plans to continue her gymnastics career, and hopes to compete again in future competitions at the provincial and national level.

For kids considering gymnastics, she encourages them to "just give it a try, and never give up, and just keep going because hard work really does pay off eventually."

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2022-06-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-06-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://communitynews.pressreader.com/article/281689733490051

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