At just 10 years of age, Michaela Brennan hasn’t known a life without rhythmic gymnastics.
Brennan is a Rogers elementary student who lives in the Glanford neighbourhood. She’s been training and performing with Victoria Rhythmic Gymnastics for seven years and is now experiencing the sports’s competitive side as she heads to Penticton for the 2016 B.C. Winter Games, starting Feb. 24.
“I’ve performed a lot but I haven’t competed, the competition part of the sport is new for me,” Brennan said.
Brennan will compete in four events doing a ball routine, hoop routine, freestyle and as part of a four-person team. She’s one of four members representing the Island with her club, which runs out of Shoreline middle school.
“I love rhythmic gymnastics because I can put on so many personalities,” Brennan said.
The B.C. Winter Games brings many firsts for Brennan, including her first time travelling to a competition without mom.
“It’s exciting we will stay on our own, no parents,” said Brennan of the Games’ high performance model. “Plus it’s some of my best friends that I’m travelling with.”
The Games is a chance for Brennan to show off the results of her training, seven hours per week including a four-hour session on Saturdays.
Brennan entered the sport at four years old and can still remember why. “I had a good friend who was doing it and once I saw her doing it, I wanted to do it right away.”