Sports

Gymnastics: Rutty qualifies for 2019 Pan Am Games

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

About the author

Jordan Armenise

Jordan Armenise

Jordan Armenise began his sports broadcasting journey with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). It was in this role where he was able to craft the immersive and enthusiastic approach to reporting, broadcasting and production you see here today in Cayman's sports community.

Jordan has also worked behind the scenes for a number of Canadian broadcasting & production companies such as CBC Sports, Cineflix Productions and Cream Productions.

Did he mention he was St. Clare of Assisi's 1994 Athlete of the Year?

Now dubbed 'The Sports Guy', Jordan relishes the role as Cayman 27 Sports Producer, where he can tell the stories of Cayman’s athletes. You can reach Jordan at or .

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