Local gymnast makes history with gold medal
By Brady Grove, Times Reporter
Photo Courtesy of Jaime Fairbairn
Fairbairn is the first female to win a gold medal for Team Alberta in the floor routine for artistic gymnastics and the first female gymnast to win a gold medal for Team Alberta at the Games since 2007.
“All my hard work finally paid off,” said Fairbairn. “I just had to focus on the little details to get the best score possible.”
The 16-year-old’s attention to the little things paid off as she scored a 9.537 in her floor routine to win it all. She said she really focused on sticking her landings and being as precise as possible with her movements.
The local’s efforts helped propel Team Alberta to a bronze medal in the team category. There were six gymnasts on the team and they all competed in the four events, including floor, balance beam, uneven bars and vault. The Top 4 scores from each event were added together for the team total.
Fairbairn came in sixth in the vault finals, and although she didn’t qualify in the uneven bars or balance beam, she shone in artistic gymnastics.
“It was really amazing. We made history for artistic gymnastics,” said Fairbairn. “Alberta hasn’t won a team medal since 1995.”
Fairbairn said it was challenging working and coming together with so many different coaches and new teammates in such a short time period, but they managed to do it.
Fairbairn was the last to qualify for Team Alberta and did so at the 11th hour of her qualifying trials at Altadore Gymnastics in Calgary Dec. 14 to 16. She struggled early but performed a gold medal routine in the balance beam to edge her way on to Team Alberta.
Ironically, her routine that got her into the Games was the one she fell on while trying a backspring-layout and it cost her a spot in the finals. However, she redeemed herself with a solid 9.167 score on the second day of competition.
“Overall I just loved the experience,” said Fairbairn. “Not everyone gets to go to Canada Winter Games and I was proud to represent Team Alberta.”
Fairbairn loves competing and isn’t taking much time off as she heads off to Montreal to compete in Gymnix International March 7-10. It will be the eighth time she has competed at the event and she is hoping to continue improving her skills.