Canmore Illusions boys gymnastics coach Kelly Mock recently returned from the 2015 PanAm Games in Toronto following a thrilling stint as a judge and apparatus secretary.
Canmore Illusions boys gymnastics coach Kelly Mock recently returned from the 2015 PanAm Games in Toronto following a thrilling stint as a judge and apparatus secretary.
Following a day of accreditation, uniform pickup and check-in, Mock got his first taste of the venue, where he worked at podium training for 14 hours. Podium training allows the teams to train in the venue before actual competition. At that time, he was approached by Team Canada and Team Trinidad and Tobago to provide feedback on their performances, and also speaking with judges to determine how athletes could maximize their performances.
“At podium training, I would go from event to event and give the athletes feedback on how to tighten up or modify their routine to maximize their potential. I gave feedback about how they would be evaluated and met with the team after each event,” Mock said.
During day one of competition for Mock, he was tapped as the Apparatus Secretary on the high bar, communicating with the Apparatus Head Judge and CBC to coordinate competition. Mock also ran the video scoreboard in the arena. The pressure was high, as 7,000 rabid gymnastic fans packed the arena.
“None of us had ever experienced that level of energy, excitement or support at any gym meet we had been a part of,” wrote Mock in his post-event report. “Canada was in team medal contention right until the last event when a fall dropped them to fourth. The level and quality of gymnastics was world class and included many Olympians as well as the current gold medallist.”
He was in attendance for Canadian Ellie Black's standing ovation after securing the all around title with her floor routine, and her gold medal on floor and beam.
For the men's competition, Mock was named one of the line judges for the floor event, where he signaled if athletes had stepped out of bounds. With the level of competition so tight, small steps out of bounds were the difference between podium results, he said.
“I had the best seat in the entire arena for an incredibly exciting showdown between some of the best gymnasts on the planet,” Mock said. “These Games were a terrific experience and enabled me to receive credit for meeting my minimum requirement to maintain or upgrade my category.”
