Olympic hopeful

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter

 

Strathmore gymnast Montana Fairbairn, 12, recently competed in Elite Canada held in Quebec Jan. 29-Feb. 1. The young athlete has been training since she was four, but only began competing a few years ago.
She now takes part in approximately 10 competitions per year, and trains six days a week at Stampede City Gymnastics Club in Calgary.
“I train every day except for Saturday for four and a half hours, except for Wednesday which is only three and a half,” said Fairbairn.
That hard work is paying off. Fairbairn is currently ranked seventh in Canada in the High Performance Novice Category, which her coach Judy Holmes says is a tremendous accomplishment.
“She is a young up-and-coming athlete still learning to compete with lots of potential,” said Holmes.
Fairbairn has a goal of making it to the Olympics, and her first chance to be eligible will be in Japan 2020.
“I have to work hard and put 100 per cent effort every day and most of all enjoy what I am doing,” said Fairbairn about what she needs to do to accomplish that goal.
The first step to the Olympics is to work hard enough and be consistent enough to be named to the Junior National Team.
“She needs to continue to add high level International difficulty content to all her routines and work at executing these skills to the highest possible level,” said Holmes.
“Once attaining National Team status she will have many more opportunities to gain the much-needed experience competing for Canada as a junior in high level International invitationals and championships. These challenges will aid her in dealing with the stresses that surround trials to attaining Senior National Team status which leads to Olympic Trials.”
Fairbairn will be competing in Nationals again this year and is excited about her new floor routine. Working the mat, showing off, smiling and dancing for the judges is still her favourite part of the sport.