Gafuik holds on to win all around title at Elite Canada gymnastics meet
Posted Sunday, February 28, 2010

ALYMER, Que., --- Calgary's Nathan Gafuik won two events and held on to capture the men's senior all around title on Sunday after two days of competition at the 2010 Elite Canada gymnastics event.

Gafuik topped the field on high bar and rings and despite struggling on floor and vault, managed to hold onto the lead he established on Saturday in the all around.

"I think I was a little tired today and that caused some of my problems, but still it was a good meet for me," said Gafuik.

"Nothing takes the place of competition, no matter how much time you spend perfecting your routines in training."

Other individual event winners were nine-year national team veteran Ken Ikeda of Abbotsford, B.C., on pommel horse and parallel bars, Anderson Loran of Saskatoon on floor and Hugh Smith of Halifax on vault.

Kevin Lytwyn of Stoney Creek, Ont., was the top gymnast on Sunday, winning four silver medals in the individual event competition which counted results just from the second day of competition.

"I felt pretty relaxed at this competition and I think it showed in my performance," said Lytwyn, a member of the 2010 world championship team.

In the junior competition, Robert Watson of Richmond, B.C. placed first on high bar and floor on Sunday and also won the all around title.

"I came here wanting to do six solid routines and I did that but the big highlight was getting my best individual event score ever with my floor routine."

Next up on the gymnastics calendar is a men's World Cup meet next weekend in Montreal.