CALGARY – It’s down to the short strokes for the Canadian men’s gymnastics team.

Gearing up for the last chance Olympic qualification meet in early January, the team will hold its final training camp in Canada at the Calgary Gymnastics Centre, December 13-20.

Members of the team are Nathan Gafuik of Calgary, Brandon O’Neill and Jackson Payne, both of Edmonton, Ken Ikeda of Abbotsford, B.C., Casey Sandy of Brampton, Ont., Jayd Lukenchuk of Saskatoon and Kevin Lytwyn of Stoney Creek, Ont.

A media availability, hosted by 2004 Olympic Champion, Kyle Shewfelt, will take place on December 15 at the Calgary Gymnastics Centre. Athletes and coaches will be available for interviews following the morning training session. Lukenchuk and Ikeda will be returning from a competition in Japan and will not be present.

Location: Calgary Gymnastics Centre, 179 Canada Olympic Road SW, Calgary.

TRAINING: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (Open to all)

MEDIA: 11:15 P.M. (One on one interview opportunities)

LUNCH: 11:30 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.

To clinch one of just 12 full team berths at the Games next summer the Canadian team needs a top-four finish at the Olympic qualifier.

The top eight nations at the recent world championships in Tokyo qualified directly for the 2012 Games while teams ranked 9th to 16th advanced to the Olympic qualification meet on January 11 in London, England.

“Our 12th place at the worlds in October showed we have what it takes to qualify a full team,” says Canadian program director Jeff Thomson of Vancouver. 

“Our strategy now is to make the team a little bit stronger across the board so that we have a buffer at the qualification meet. We want to improve the quality and consistency of the routines, eliminate mistakes we made at the worlds and improve on our landings.”

A final preparation camp will take place in Lowestoft, England with the British team in January.

Contacts: Liang Chang (National Team Coach) - liang@inspiresportsinc.com