Whitby gymnast Lori Strong returned home this past weekend from Macau, China, with three gold medals and a bronze.
The 14-year-old captured gold medals in the vault and beam exercises plus a bronze medal for her floor routine. Her third gold medal was for overall performance.
Strong travelled to China last weekend as a member of the Canadian Gymnastic team of which she is a two year veteran.
A gymnast since she was seven, closer to home, Strong is a member of the Oshawa Gemini Gymnastic Club. Her teammate Christina McDonald also made the trip to China, bringing home a gold medal on the bars.
The two area gymnast’s performances helped the Canadian team place third overall in the Pacific Alliance meet.
“Before the competition I felt pretty good and I had been working hard but I didn’t really know what to expect,” said Strong, taking a five minute break from a practice session at the Oshawa Club on Sunday morning (Sept. 21). Strong was at the club Sunday for her regular practice following her return to Canada that Friday (Sept. 19).
Reflecting on the competition, Strong said she was very happy with her performance.
“I thought I had a chance to win a medal in some events, but I wasn’t sure. I didn’t say to myself “I have a chance? I just went out and performed.”
Gymnastics has made it possible for Strong to see many parts of the world, including Japan, East and West Germany and Bulgaria.
“I loved the shopping in China,” recalled Strong, explaining that designer brands of all items were to be found at very cheap prices.
“The people were very friendly and most of them spoke English,” said Strong, but once in a while she said the team came across someone who couldn’t speak English and the next half hour was spent in total confusion.
A Grade 9 student at Anderson Collegiate High School, Strong practices at the Oshawa Club Monday. Wednesday and Friday from 1 to 5 p.m., Thursday nights and Sundays. A special arrangement with the Durham Board of Education lets her get caught up on her school work when her practices and meets force her to miss a class.
The 14 – year – old has no intention of falling behind in her school work and plans to attend university in the future.
Gymnastics are also in the talented youngster’s future. She plans to make appearances at the 1987 World Gymnastics Competition and the 1988 Olympics.
Strong’s next international meet is tentatively scheduled for November in Japan.
