Dale Ali, director of Olympia Gymnastics Academy Wolfpack who operates out of the Jean Pierre Complex, and Michelle Frankland-Telfer from Tots and Tumblers, received the highest national rating as a judge after participating in the "Introductory to Judging Course", conducted by the Federation of International Gymnastics (FIG- the World’s governing body for the sport of Gymnastics), Pan American Gymnastics Union (PAGU) WAG Technical Director Helen Lileberte, recently.
The local duo was among seven persons sent by the T&T Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) to the event hosted by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Gymnastics Association, inclusive of 24 aspiring judges.
Both participants are current members of the TTGF council as Ali is the chairman of the T&T Gymnastics Coaching Body and Frankland-Telfer is the chairman of the Women Artistic Gymnastics Committee.
The pair will have the honour of applying to join the Intercontinental C Course Brevet Test in 2021, which is the highest international judging rating.
The TTGF recently concluded its annual general meeting on May 4, now under the leadership of elected president Sasha Darbeau. Other elected members are Joanne Webb, the second vice president, Michelle Abdool (general secretary), Caroline Rostant (assistant secretary) and Sharon Bravo-Phillip (appointed trustee).
The federation is now preparing for the T&T National Gymnastics Championships from May 17-19 at the Woodbrook Youth Facility in Port-of-Spain.
For the first time, T&T will be hosting the Caribbean Gymnastic Championship from June 14-16 at the Woodbrook Youth Facility, with expected gymnasts from Barbados, Aruba, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Bermuda and T&T junior national teams.
Athletes selected to represent T&T will have secured their positions on the team by topping a seeded point system following the "We Flipping" meet, the Olympia Caribbean Classic and the National Championships.
The TTGF has high expectations for its lone MAG athlete Joe Foxx, who will be representing T&T at the upcoming Pan American Games in November.