The Pine Valley Gym Centre in Tawatinaw went international last week as the Chinese National Gymnastics Team dropped in to train at the world-class facility.
Six men and six women were present working their craft on the mats, bars and pommel horses. Including trainers, coaches and team doctors there were over 20 visitors.
Team China sponsor Liang Cheng said he was drawn to the area through his friendship with gym-owner Dom Kriangkum and the fact that Tawatinaw offers distraction-free training as the team prepares for the 2017 Gymnastics World Championships in Montreal Oct. 2-8.
“I’ve known Dom for a lifetime, almost,” said Cheng. “Since I was a coach. I also have a connection with Chinese Gymnastics, I was on the national team.”
Cheng, who coaches at Capital City Gymnastics in Edmonton, has made a habit of training elite athletes.
“We have athletes that go the Olympics and other championships, so we have quite a lot of connections with China,” he said. “As soon as this facility was ready, it was a fantastic opportunity for both China and Canada to work together, especially this year.”
Cheng said that Tawatinaw was a good draw for the team because its isolation allowed the athletes to focus on their craft.
“It’s very natural here,” he said. “In this place we can gather more people together. Gymnastics is all about community. It’s good to bring people here to see the higher level of athletics. It brings the population’s attention to the area.”
He explained that not only does the presence of the team help inspire younger athletes, it also serves as a cross-cultural exchange.
The stop at Tawatinaw was the crowning point for a long road trip for the team.
“Last week we were in Calgary for an international competition,” he said. “For the last three years we’ve been here competing with Team Canada and Team USA and other teams.”
With its quiet atmosphere and close ties with the team, training at the Pine Valley Gym is likely to continue on for years to come.
“Tawatinaw is a very good facility, the service is excellent here,” he said. “It’s a quiet place. We can prepare mentally and physically for competitions.”
Liang added that the Team China has returned the favour, inviting Team Canada to train in China.
Team China’s time in Tawatinaw is not yet over as they’ll be back in September.
