After competing against 22 countries and 70 gymnasts at the 2018 Pan American Senior Gymnastics Championships in in Lima, Peru 11-15 September, 16-year old Raegan Rutty has qualified for the 2019 Pan Games.
“I’m really happy with myself and my performance because I put out a lot of new upgrades and skills so be able to compete those and having a good outcome in them was really thrilling and really exciting so i was proud of myself for that.”
Needing to place no worst than 7th among nine countries aiming to send just one individual gymnast to the games, Rutty finish 4th overall. She credits the result to freshening up her routine.
“On the floor, I had a lot of new passes. On vault, I had a new vault. On beam, I had a new series, so doing those new skills and representing your country is an amazing experience no matter where you go.”
In doing so, she exceeded even her own expectations.
“Qualifying for Pan Am Games was a huge goal of mine. When I achieved it, I remember after the competition I was looking around that like ‘did i qualify? did i qualify?’ It wasn’t until later that night that we got the official news that I did, and when I did, and I was so excited and I knew it was worth it.”
But does the weight of being the only gymnast from Cayman headed to the games going to make this teenage sensation waiver? She says not likely.
“To know everyone is counting on you, that’s a lot of pressure. Knowing that your country is watching you. To walk behind your flag, walk with your flag, walk with your country on your leotard is just amazing.”
This will be Rutty’s first time competing at the Pan Am Games. Next up for Rutty is the 2018 Artistic World Championships 25 October – 3 November in Qatar.
Here’s a look at Rutty’s results from the 2018 Pan American Senior Gymnastics Championships:
Raegan Rutty, 16
40/78 overall
4th overall (individual country qualification)
Vault: 50th
Bars: 48th
Beam: 61st
Floor: 46th
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