University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota's Canadian Duo Looks Ahead to 2020 Olympics
9/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
While Rio 2016 has wrapped, Golden Gophers and Canadian National Team Members Joel Gagnon and Justin Karstadt already have their eye on Tokyo. The duo finished their summer at the 2020 Hopefuls Camp in Montreal last week with head coach Mike Burns at their side.
What did the camp entail?
Joel: The training camp was quite intense, with most days having seven hours of practice. The main focus in the mornings was perfecting basics on each event, as well as strength and conditioning. In the afternoon, the focus shifted to learning new, exciting and difficult skills for the future. This was a fun opportunity to train with a motivated group of up-and-coming guys. It was awesome to push each other and make so much progress throughout the week.
Justin: This camp focused on reinforcing the basics and new skill development for the next season, and the next four years leading to the 2020 Olympics.
What was the best experience from this trip?
Joel: I really had fun trying out new skills on almost every event in the gym. Outside of training, we took the subway to visit old Montreal, and of course as a proud French-Canadian, I ordered poutine! It might not have been the healthiest choice, but it was definitely the tastiest choice.
Justin: Being able to tour downtown Montreal with Joel and a few other Canadian teammates. I had lots of great food and loved the city!
What's it like being teammates for both Minnesota and Canada?
Joel: Being teammates with Justin on the Canadian team, and as Gophers, is really awesome-we've become great friends. Having Justin as a training partner is especially nice when we are both preparing to attend Canadian team events, we can keep each other motivated and focused, even if the team is on a different schedule at the time. Last year, we both attended the Pacific Rim Championship and Canadian Championships together. We have found a way to have success with the maple leaf and "M" on our chests.
Justin: It's really great being teammates with Joel for both Minnesota and Canada. We both share the Olympic dream and understand each other's training goals. We push each other every day to stay on track with our goals.
What was it like to have Burns there with you?
Joel: The fact that Mike found time in his busy schedule to accompany us on this trip was fantastic, and it shows how committed he is to his athletes. He's a very positive coach in the gym, which makes for a great training environment.
Justin: It was great having Burns at the camp. He's able to coach guys with different skill sets and personalities. He got a chance to work with all of the guys at the camp and I think everyone really enjoyed having him there to help out.
What does representing Canada mean to you?
Joel: Being able to represent Canada is such an honour, and has been a big goal for me since I was a child. In a lot of ways, it almost feels surreal to think that I'm now a Senior National team Member getting to represent Canada internationally; it really is a dream come true.
Justin: Representing your country is really the pinnacle of your gymnastics career. It's very important to me. The end goal is to compete in the Olympic Games in your country's colours, so every time I get to represent Canada, it's very special and it feels one step closer to my dream.
What are you looking forward to this season?
Joel: I'm looking forward to making some upgrades on a few events, and trying to contribute more to the team. Last year I had an elbow injury at our first meet that prevented me from reaching my full potential, so I'm looking forward to showcasing my progress and show off some big gymnastics.
Justin: I'm really looking forward to competing with more difficult routines. It will certainly be a tough process, but I'm hoping by the Big Ten and NCAA Championships, I will be able to really help our team achieve our goals.
Players Mentioned
