Gymnast competing at Winter Games

By Tyson Off Staff Writer

A 15-year-old gymnast out of Yorkton’s Springers Gymnastic Club is representing Sask. at the Canada Winter Games in PEI.

The club’s Danica Signarowski will look to bring home the gold for the province and the city.

Yorkton This Week spoke with Jessica Ronn, Head Coach at Springers Gymnastics Club.

“She’s a level 10 athlete and she’s been doing gymnastics for probably 11 years,” said Ronn, adding, “she’s the top athelte in our gym.”

Ronn said Signarowski was originally named as alternate for the CWG at trials in Dec.

“She was named as an alternate initially back in Dec. — one of the athletes in Saskatoon was courted for the Junior National Team so she could not compete at Canada games

— so Danica was in,” said Ronn, adding, “it all kind of worked out.”

Signarowski is one of 3600 participants to attend the CWG and is making history for Springer’s Gymnastics Club.

“She’s our first athlete ever to compete at this level so I just thought it was pretty awesome and I just thought it was kind of a big deal for Yorkton,” said Ronn.

“She’s never been

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Burrell said the opportunity to go to the Canada Games is gratifying.

“I’ve really worked hard this season,” she said, adding that effort is being rewarded by the Games’ spot.

“It’s a good opportunity.

Burrell said she has been skating since she was two, or three, following in her sister’s footsteps.

“My sister really helped me start skating, wanting to skate,” she said.

In the past decade Burrell said while enjoying several sports, figure skating has always been her favourite, meaning lots of early alarms to be at the rink training.

“Sometimes it’s hard to get up in the early morning but you have to work hard to achieve what I want to achieve,” she said.

While already capturing a Saskatchewan championship this season, and having a berth at the Saskatchewan Winter Games before heading to PEI, Burrell is modest about her Canada Winter Games aspirations.

“I just want to have fun, make some friends, see some new places,” she said.

Aya Burrell

As for her performance, a personal best would be great, but Burrell said she will just strive “to do the best I can do.”

Burrell said she also realizes the Canada Games are an opportunity to continue her journey as a figure skater, one she admitted when she dreams big includes one day skating on the biggest stage of the Winter Olympics.

The Games run from Feb. 18, to March 5, and can be seen livestreamed at www.CanadaGames.ca