Representing Canada.
Kasey Whalen poses at Saltos Athletics in Perth, where she is training to take on the world in July.
Rosanne Lake
PERTH - To say that Kasey Whalen is excited about attending the FIG
Aerobic Gymnastics World Series in Las
Vegas this July is a bit of an understatement.
Whalen, who hails from Almonte but trains with Saltos Athletics in Perth, literally vibrates
with a mixture of nerves and anticipation when she talks about competing at an
international level.
She earned that opportunity two weeks ago, when Federation of
International Gymnastics brevet sport aerobic judge and national coach Holly
Abraham visited the Perth
club to adjudicate the national team, and at the same time see if Whalen was up
to par for competing on the world stage.
“The judge looked at my routine and offered constructive criticism,”
Whalen said.
Before she took to the floor
for her routine, Whalen realized that this was her one chance to impress.
“It was make it or break it,” she said.
The routine incorporated four elements that must be present: a
straddle hold, a straddle jump, a free vertical and a Wenson push-up.
Whalen, who has been involved in gymnastics since she was three
years old, has focused solely on aerobic gymnastics for about six years.
She is now 14 years old, but is turning 15 in April, so she will
compete in the 15 to 17 year old category at the world contest.
In terms of being nervous, Whalen said she is more excited than
anything. That’s not hard to believe as the energy that exudes from the
lifelong gymnast is infectious.
“I do this routine immediately,” Whalen said. “I get in the moment
and it just comes naturally.”
In fact, she is so involved in the routine she performs it in her
head from start to finish as she is going to sleep at night.
That mental preparation is key to her success, she says, although
she humbly acknowledges she may have a different definition of success than
others.
“I am aiming to do the best I can,” Whalen said. “If that gets me to
a final, then it’s a bonus, but personally, I don’t want to aim too high and be
disappointed.”
There will be about 75
competitors in Whalen’s category at the international competition. Whalen says
she knows the sheer number of people will be overwhelming, but it also makes
her realize how important it is to stand out from the crowd for the judges.
Louise Miller, Whalen’s coach and owner of Saltos Athletics, said
Whalen has shown dedication this season.
“Kasey has really pushed herself hard to be able to get to this
point,” Miller said.
She said that considering Whalen is in her first year of high
school, she has done a great job turning her attention to things other
teenagers don’t have to worry about, such as proper nutrition and sacrificing
time with friends to train. “She deserves it,” Miller said.
Miller and the international judge will accompany Whalen to Las Vegas to be at the
competition.
In the mean time, Whalen is bolstering her training to 15 hours a
week, travelling to Saltos Monday through Wednesday and on Saturday.
She also does stretches, weights and a cardio workout at home.
Whalen has even been undertaking psychological training to help her mental
shape be on par with her physical fitness levels.
Whalen is tackling her new schedule head on, as July can’t come soon
enough for her.
“I’m beyond happy to be going,” she said. “This is what I’ve worked
for years to do.”