th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, M ay 30 ,2 01 9 | 34 Gymnastics conjures up images of graceful move- ments and precise, acrobat- ic actions. It takes a certain level of natural ability to vault yourself into the air, twist and turn in the air and land on your feet. Alana Fischer had trou- ble just staying on her feet. "As a young child I was very clumsy," Fischer says. "My pediatrician suggested gymnastics for my motor skills, to help them develop so my mom signed up for a mom and tot program." The advice paid off, to an extent. "I'm still very clumsy outside the gym," she says. "It's easy to flip on a four- inch beam, I can do stuff in mid-air, but I can't walk in a straight line without trip- ping." It is in the gym where Fi- scher excelled. After aug- menting her gymnastics with dance classes, coaches at the club began to take no- tice. Soon she was being asked about trying pre- competitive, and then com- petitive programs. With strong showings at provincial and national championships, Fischer thought about one day com- peting for her country, but a series of injuries derailed those opportunities. Or so she thought. Now a sophomore at Southeast Missouri State University, Fischer was en- joying a strong season with the Redhawks - one that would see her qualify for her second straight USA Gymnastics Collegiate Na- tional Championships - when she received word that she had been selected to the Canadian team for the World University Games in Naples, Italy. "It's really exciting. I've competed for Ontario but this will be my first time competing for Canada," said the 21-year-old , whose dad Rainer competed in ju- do at the Olympics in Mon- treal. "I'm excited, not just for the gymnastics, but to see all the different athletes in water polo, fencing, swimming, diving. I'm call- ing this my mini-Olym- pics." Fischer and her two teammates, Jessica Dow- ling and Denelle Pedrick, are also enjoying the oppor- tunity to design their own competition suits. Her teammates both competed at the last World University Games in Taiwan, where Canada won the silver med- al in the team competition. But that was a five-member team that included a pair of national team members, so Fischer said it may be diffi- cult to repeat that perfor- mance. "I'm not going to put too much pressure on myself," she said. Fischer has managed to exceed her own expecta- tions before. Injuries from fractures to ligament tears forced her to miss four com- petitive seasons in the pre- vious 10 years. She was in Grade 9 when another gym- nast from her club, Manjak Gymnastics, was offered a scholarship. "With all my injuries I was too far behind to be that elite national team gymnast, but that showed me something could come from this," she said. "If I keep doing this, I could earn a scholarship." Two years later, Fischer started receiving offers of her own. But a ruptured Achilles in her final year of high school put that in jeop- ardy. She spent a month in a wheelchair at the start of a year-long rehab. Still, she managed to come back and finish eighth all-around in the na- tional open division at the Canadian championships and accepted at scholar- ship offer from Southeast Missouri State. With the Redhawks, Fi- scher finished seventh all- around at this year's USA Gymnastics Women's Col- legiate National Champi- onship, an event for school's with seven or fewer scholarships. And now Fischer will make the jump from the na- tional to the international stage. Her biggest chal- lenge has been raising funds for the competition. Competitors at the World University Games must pay for their own accommoda- tion, travel, food and insur- ance. Even setting up a page to raise funds was a complicated process be- cause of the rules she need- ed to follow as a scholarship athlete. Fischer knows those challenges will be worth it when she gets to represent her country in Italy. "I love competing," she said. "I used to get nervous. Now, the thrill and excite- ment of doing your rou- tines, the music and the dance, it brings out your personality. I love it." COMMUNITY ONCE A CLUMSY KID, GYMNAST FISCHER NOW REPRESENTING CANADA HERB GARBUTT hgarbutt@metroland.com Georgetown's Alana Fisher will represent Canada at the World University Games in Naples, Italy from July 3-14. The 21-year-old just completed her sophomore season at the Southeast Missouri State University. Southeast Missouri State Athle Open year round Endless possibilities CELEBRATING all of LIFE'S MOMENTS EAGLE RIDGE GOLF CLUB | RR #4, 11742 TENTH LINE, GEORGETOWN, ON | eagleridge.clublink.ca BAPTISMS and CHRISTENINGS BABY SHOWERS BRIDAL SHOWERS REHEARSAL DINNERS WEDDINGS BIRTHDAYS CELEBRATIONS of LIFE FUNDRAISERS HOLIDAY PARTIES BRUNCHES MEETINGS ViewOurNewly Renovated Clubhouse! 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