Jessica Dowling wins Open Massilia All-round 2011, Marseille, France; Canadian team wins Master Massilia
Earlier this year Jessica Dowling won herself the 2011 Canadian Open Championships. Now, as the calendar year comes to a close, she does not plan on exiting quietly. The athlete captured the gold on the first day of the Elite Massilia’s Open division this
week.
The competition was staged at the Palais des Sports in Marseille, France. It commenced on Friday November 18, and closed on Sunday, November 20.
After her disappointing performance at the Senior International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), Dowling decided to give more time to competing in the Opens. The Senior FIG was her first such meet and she felt she needed the Opens to rebuild her crumbling confidence.
Dowling was neither eligible for the World Championships, nor had a shot at the Olympics at the time. However, Netherlands offered her a try out for their team.
The athlete has dual citizenship, since her mother was born in the Netherlands. She considered the offer when her heel and shoulder injuries prevented her from competing at the Elite Canada meet.
Having taken up the offer, Dowling became a part of the Netherlands’ team for a very brief period. Currently, she is back with the Canadian team and is officially recognized by the FIG as a Canadian representative in gymnastics.
The first day comprised of all-round competitions where Dowling’s score (54.1) trumped the Australian athlete Georgia Rose Brown’s score (53.65). Hot at Brown’s heels was fellow Canadian, Kaitlyn Hofland, with a score of 53.3 points.
The second day kicked off with the First Massigaliade – a completion for aspiring champions. It was followed by the Master Massilia which entailed the team competitions.
The three-day competition closed with the Top Massilia, the apparatus finals followed by the closing gala.
Local hosts included Pole Gymnastics Marseille, France, working in collaboration with the Regional Committee PACA and the Departmental Committee of the Bouches du Rhone.
Months of hard work went into preparation for the event, with more than 25 groups dedicated to the task.
The competition boasts of International elite gymnasts, including Viktoria Komova, Anastasia Grishina, Victoria Moors, Sabrina Gill, Doriane Thobie and Anne Kuhm.
Dowling is the second Canadian gymnast to have earned herself the all-round title in the Open division at Massilia.
She also secured the top position as part of the Canada Mixed team. Teammates, Sarah Flett, Tara Mauchel and Ellie Black, also contributed in the win.
Black’s elbow injury did not become detrimental to the team’s performance, and added effectively to its winning 155.250.
The Australian team came in second with 154.450 points, while another team from Canada, by the name of Canada Futures Gymnastics, took the third spot with 154.070 points.
It seems that Dowling’s decision to go for the Opens for a morale boost was a step in the right direction. Fans hope to see her in bigger competitions, the Elite Massilia all-round gold being only a beginning.
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