The queens of the floor put on a powerful performance in Vernon.
RISE Gymnastics Academy hosted the annual Queen of Hearts rhythmic gymnastics competition Jan. 23 to 25 at the Vernon Recreation Complex, a competition that brought 175 athletes from 10 clubs around the province to the North Okanagan.
“Hosting an event of this scale here in Vernon shows how much our local rhythmic gymnastics community has grown and how strong the sport is across the province,” said RISE, which merged in 2025 with the Okanagan RG club, founded by Vernon Olympian and Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame member Camille Martens.
Over the three days of competition, gymnasts performed routines with ribbon, hoop, ball, and clubs, competing across multiple age groups and categories.
Spectators were treated to a showcase of grace, strength, flexibility, and precision, as athletes demonstrated the results of years of dedicated training.
As hosts, Rise Gymnastics Academy (https://risegymacademy.com/) played a central role in the event, entering several of its own athletes to the competition floor, including local elite competitor Clara Cox. She will attend the national ranking event Elite Canada in Toronto Feb. 19 to 22.
“I was so proud of our athletes! Their energy and focus in the back was wonderful,” said RISE program director and rhythmic head coach Brie-Ann MacPherson. “I stuck with the theme of Calm and Strong with them and was so proud of the confidence and bravery they showed on the carpet.
“The event gave us a great road map to our next steps to keep on improving.”