Chilliwack’s Zachary Clay finished 21st overall at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, held Oct. 2-8 in Montreal.
Clay came into Worlds with the goal of going six-for-six in the finals, and he accomplished it with solid showings on the pommel horse, floor, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar.
The pommel horse was his best event, with a score of 13.566 placing him ninth.
“The biggest highlight for me was rings – right as I landed that last dismount – the feeling, I just can’t describe it,” Clay said afterwards. “It was such an amazing feeling hitting six for six in the all-around finals at worlds, and that it was in Canada was just an added bonus.”
Clay, who trains with Abbotsford’s Twisters Gymnastics Club, was a national team alternate in 2015 after suffering an injury in training, and finished 69th all-around in 2014.
Returning from injury last May, Clay won the Canadian all-around title at nationals in Montreal.
“This is a really good confidence booster,” he said. “My first big confidence booster was winning nationals, but now, carrying on with this World Championships was amazing.
“I feel really good and I now know what I need to do for my next competition.”
View results online at mtl2017gymcan.com/en/results/