Putzi floors ’em

By Woodard, Dale on February 25, 2020.

Dale Woodard

Lethbridge Herald

sports@lethbridgeherald.com

Lauren Putzi left it all on the floor.

She floored the judges and the competition as well as the 13-year-old gymnast with the West Wind Gymnastics Club tumbled her way to an Alberta Winter Games gold medal last weekend in Airdrie.

Competing over the course of two days, Putzi made the finals in both the floor and vault events.

She placed sixth in vault, but her floor routine was gold as Putzi did her part in contributing to Zone 1’s medal haul at the four-day event, which consisted of seven gold, nine silver and 20 bronze.

“I was kind of nervous at the beginning, but once I got into it I was happy with it and then I got really excited,” said Putzi. “I competed on Saturday and did the four events. I placed in the top eight and on Sunday morning I got to go back and compete on the floor.”

Competing in her strongest event of the four disciplines, Putzi delivered with a champion floor routine.

“It’s always been my strong event,” she said. “I like to just be able to express myself throughout the routine. My goal was just to try my best. This was my second games. I didn’t win any medals (at her first game), but it was my first time so I was pretty happy with that. (My goal) was just to have fun with it and try my best because even if I fail I’m still going to have fun.”

Given her training routine, this Alberta Winter Games gold is well-earned.

“I practise 16 hours a week and that’s doing every single event. It’s four days a week,” said Putzi.

The gymnast’s competitive schedule runs from January to June, but Putzi said she doesn’t have any events planned in the immediate future.

But there will be more as she looks to build on her Winter Games gold medal.

“This is my seventh year,” she said. “I originally did dance and I decided I try gymnastics and I just really loved it.”

See Wednesday’s Herald for a list of Zone 1 medallists.

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