Sydney Turner is going to Paris this month with Canada's Olympic artistic gymnastics team.
The New Westminster-born athlete unveiled via social media that she's been named the second travelling alternate for the 2024 Summer Games, which take place July 26 to Aug. 11.
While she won't suit up for competition, Turner said, despite being left off the official roster, she's proud she'll get to support her teammates in the French capital in hopes of seeing them reach the podium.
In her comments, Turner, who's trained and represented TAG Gymnastics in Port Coquitlam, thanked all the support she received in getting to this point in her young career.
"I wouldn’t get to receive this honour without you all," the 18-year-old said, calling the last year a "rollercoaster" that's "reignited" her passion for gymnastics.
Turner helped the Canadians qualify for Paris 2024 after winning a team bronze medal — the first in program history — at the 2022 world championships in England.
In October last year, the University of Iowa Div. I commit claimed bronze with Canada's national women's artistic gymnastics squad at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
She was so consistent in all four disciplines — vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise — that all her scores were used to get the red and white to the podium.
At the Canadian trials, she placed fifth all-around among senior competitors, including fourth on the beam and sixth on uneven bars.
"I love all of the opportunities I get the chance to take up and all the wonderful people I get to meet through gymnastics," Turner added.
"I was really proud of how I improved at every meet leading up to Trials and hit 8/8 there.
The Paris 2024 women's artistic gymnastics team final is set for July 30 with individual competitions taking place in the days that follow.
With a file from Mario Bartel, Tri-City News
