Revelstoke acrobat Ruby Ryga will represent Canada at the 2022 Trampoline Gymnastics World Age Group (WAGs) Competition in Sofia, Bulgaria, from Nov. 23-26, 2022. Ruby’s Revelstoke representation abroad makes her the first international competitor on the widely successful club team, the Revelstoke Acrobats.
Ruby joins Gymnastics Canada, competing in the 2022 Trampoline, Tumbling, and Double Mini Trampoline (DMT) World Age Group Competition for the 13-14, 15-16, and 17-21 age groups with 49 gymnasts. Athletes join the team from 26 clubs and six provinces across Canada.
Ruby is one of four athletes in her age category representing Canada in DMT, earning her spot on the team following an impressive performance at the Canadian Championships in July.
See one of Ruby’s gold medal performances that secured her a spot with Gymnastics Canada here:
Head Coach, Jill Drake, will travel with Ruby and her family to Bulgaria to support her in the competition.
“I’ve coached Ruby from the first day she walked in the gym door,” says Jill. “This is one of her goals that we set out, and we’ve accomplished it. I’m so proud of this kid, so I’ll be there.”
Ruby’s DMT performance will be judged and scored based on the difficulty and execution of the skills in her routine.
Leading up to the competition, Ruby is training five days a week, says Jill. She leaves Canada on Nov. 18 and competes on Nov. 26.
The Revelstoke Acrobats
The Revelstoke Acrobats are hugely successful, with athletes competing at provincial and national levels. Ruby’s international participation in the Junior Worlds competition elevates the team’s success even further, says Jill.
Jill, coach at the club for the last ten years, says she’s seen it evolve alongside the town’s growth.
Revelstoke Acrobats hosts four athletes (including Ruby) competing nationally for B.C. when the team goes to Canadian championships. The athletes competed in the 2022 Trampoline Gymnastics Canadian Championships hosted in Calgary from July 21 to 24 this summer, winning several medals. In addition, all four Revelstoke competitors placed top five or better in their categories.
The club also boasts a competitive team of 30 athletes. In total, Jill estimates the club has roughly 150 members this year.
“We’re trying to offer as much as we can to the community,” Jill says. “My biggest problem, honestly, right now is that there are more families who would like to come to my programme than I have time and coaching staff for.”
Jill and Assistant Coach Rianne Mariash coach the athletes with the help of teen assistant coaches from the competitive team.
Jill says Revelstoke can expect to see more of the club’s star-studded team as they compete nationally in Ontario and Montreal this year.