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Barbara
Gasser of Sarnia Placed 19th all
around at the 2008 European Gymnastics
Championships currently taking place in
Clermont-Ferrand France. The 18 year old
gymnast is a member of the Bluewater
Gymnastics Club in Sarnia, and has
maintained her Austrian citizenship since
she and her family moved to Canada almost 5
years ago. Barbara is a member of the
Canadian Program as well and placed 12th
in Canada at the 2007 Elite Canada
Competition in December 2007.
Her result at the European
Championships is a huge success for her and
her native country. It stands as the best
ever placing in the all around competition
for an Austrian Gymnast, “Barbara’s
leadership and performance also lead the
Austrian team to its best ever result,” said
her personal coach Dave Brubaker although 14th
place as a team is a far cry from the
medals, it was reason for an “Austrian
Celebration” for the team that usually
fluctuates between 15th and 20th
in the European Gymnastics Union.
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Austrian Head coach Johanna Gratt was extremely pleased
with the outcome, and explained that there were several
comments in the post competition debriefing from
European, judges and coaches, about the new style and
look of the Austrian Team and Staff. Dave Brubaker, one
of the Bluewater Coaches was also a member of the
Coaching Team for Austria, at the 2008 Europeans.
Gasser will
remain in Europe to compete in her first “World Cup”
event in two weeks in Cottbus Germany. Immediately after
she will be joined by Canadian teammates Emma Willis,
Dominique Pegg, and Emily Bigras and together there
foursome will tee off at the 2008 Austrian Team
Championships. This will act as a tune up for Willis who
will also remain in Europe for a few weeks to take part
in the World Cup circuit in Maribor, Slovenia. The Debut
for Gasser and Willis will mark the 1st time
Bluewater athletes have ever been participating in the
world cup circuit. “Anything can happen” says Brubaker
“but we really need to look at these events for
experience”. “There are athletes that follow this
circuit all year long and our athletes are just getting
there feet wet.”
Dominique Pegg,
and Emily Bigras will return home with Gasser after the
Austrian Team Championship to continue in preparation
for the 2008 National Gymnastics Championships in
Calgary.
Willis and
Gasser are both candidates for there respective National
Teams for the upcoming World Championships to be held
next year in London England.
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