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OkillSportsSPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2011 45Oakville Gymnastics Clubhosting provincial trampolineOLYMPIAN IN TOWN:and tumbling championshipsThree-timeOlympian Karen By Herb Garbutttitle last year. He also turned in a top-10 finish Cockburn, picturedOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFat the World Age Group Championships.competing at the Though there is a progression in skills as 2010 Olympic The Oakville Gymnastics Club will play athletes move to higher levels, the jump to Summer Games inhost to world champions and Olympic medal-senior can be a challenging one as athletes Nagano, will beists this weekend as well as a group of local begin performing the most difficult skills. one of the com-athletes striving to join their ranks.Meehan is currently working on incorporat-petitors at this Three-time Olympic medalist Karen ing three double flips into his tumbling pass.weekend's Cockburn will be among the 400 competitors The 18-year-old, who earned a personal Trampoline and at the Trampoline and Tumbling Ontario best score to finish second at Elite Canada last Tumbling Ontario Championships Saturday and Sunday. Also month, began competing in artistic gymnas-Championships incompeting will be Rosie MacLennan, who tics but made the switch to tumbling four Oakville. Four hun-teamed with Cockburn to win the gold medal years ago. Coach Don Holmes said Meehan dred athletes will at the 2009 world championships in synchro-has the ability to perform a pass with the same participate in thenized trampoline.skills as a competitor but still make it look provincial meet at The provincial championships will be part better.Oakville of Cockburns preparation for the London He has a very classic line, he said. In Gymnastics Club, Olympics next summer. Cockburn won silver tumbling, everyone is different. There are no including many medals at the Olympics in 2004 and 2008 and marks for (artistic impression), but it still local gymnastsa bronze in 2000.does play into the overall mark. He gets good with ambitions of Cockburn and the senior women compete extension, his toes are pointed and he gets eventually com-at noon tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday at good height and speed.peting on the 10 a.m. in sychro trampoline.While Meehan has lacked rivals in his divi-world stage.The host club will also have a strong con-sion at the Ontario Cups leading up to provin-tingent of athletes vying for provincial titles cials, Holmes has taken advantage of other PHOTO COURTESYwith an eye on competing on the world ways to motivate him.OF GYMNASTICSstage.Hes been watching YouTube, watching ONTARIOJonathan Meehan may already have the the top tumblers, he said. Weve had to fig-title wrapped up hes the lone senior ure out, what do you do, how do you push national level tumbler in Ontario but the yourself to get to those big skills. Weve tried event will serve as valuable preparation for the to keep him connected to some of the top national championships.tumblers at or beyond his level by using social Meehan is in his first season of senior com-media.See Dedication, page 48petition after winning the Canadian youth