The 2015 Pan American Games begin this week in Toronto, Ontario and is sure to be an exciting event. The home country Canada will be represented with a strong women’s team made up of Elsabeth Black, Madison Copiak, Maegan Chant, Isabela Onyshko, and Victoria Woo. This week we will introduce you to each member of the team, starting with veteran Black. Black trains at Halifax Alta Gymnastics Club with coach David Kikuchi. 

Black is in her seventh year of elite competition and will be a key leader for Canada. She was part of the 2012 Olympic team that made history by qualifying to the team finals for the first time and earning a fifth place finish. She has continued to improve and gain international experience since 2012 with the goal of the 2016 Olympics in mind. 

 

Black competed in both the 2013 and 2014 World Championships as well as numerous World Cups and other international competitions. At the 2014 World Championships, Black placed ninth all-around, seventh on beam, and 11th on vault. She is the reigning Canadian National Champion after recently taking the title for the third year in a row. 

 

Naturally a powerful gymnast, Black is talented on vault and floor. However, she is not to be counted out of the all-around as her bars and beam have improved greatly. She’s added difficulty into her beam routine and now performs two series including a back handspring to tuck full. Her ninth place finish at Worlds marks Canada’s best-ever all-around result a World Championships. 

Stay tuned for more from Team Canada!


Related:
Ellie Black on floor at the 2015 Jesolo Trophy 
Ellie Black on beam at the 2015 Jesolo Trophy