Local gymnast opts out of recess, by choice

How many 10 year olds do you know choose to have no recess? Justine Veillette from Ajax, has made the decision to pass on recess at school, for one reason — gymnastics.

“She has no complaints about training 20 hours per week, 12 months of the year,” says her mother, Nancy Toupin. She spends her recesses catching up on homework and assignments.

Earlier this month, Justine competed at the Reach for the Sky Gymnastics competition held in Oshawa where she placed first overall at the level 5 category with a gold on beam, gold on floor, gold on bars and bronze on vault.

“It was wonderful for me to have a competition at my home gym,” says Veillette. She also won the Technical Excellence glass trophy and two special awards for best kips and casts on bars as well as the highest leaps and jumps on beam. “It is a big achievement.”

“Gymnastics is the perfect sport,” Justine asserts.

“It allows you to feel free as you swing on the bars or tumble across the floor. I feel energized when I do gymnastics...even if I am just doing a cartwheel in the basement.”

Her achievements are significant especially considering that Justine recently recovered from a broken foot earlier in the year.

“I will remember that day forever. I still have butterflies in my stomach when I think about it!”
Injuries tend to be a part of competitive sports. Last December, Justine broke her foot on beam only two days before the Provincial qualifiers. But she was not about to let a broken foot bring her down.

She continued to work on her muscles to ensure that she was ready to train as soon as her foot healed.

“I just put in my mind that I am showing my routines to somebody else. I don’t think about the judges. I try to focus and stay sharp and do my best. I am more excited than nervous. I love competition,” she says.

Justine placed first on beam at the Ontario Cup and finished 6th overall. Making the Provincial Championships is a direct result of her perseverance.

Considering that Justine spends 20 hours a week training, Gemini Gymnastics in Oshawa, has become her second home.

“Gemini Gymnastics has provided Justine with outstanding coaching and has encouraged her to stretch out of her comfort zone to attain new skills and perfect existing ones. She is hard-working, respectful to her coaches and her teammates, and has adjusted well to her new gymnastics environment,” says Elena Davydova, head coach.

A 1980 Olympic Gold Medallist herself, Davydova is also Justine’s inspiration.

So what are Veillette’s aspirations? To earn a spot on the Canadian Olympic Team. In the heart of this 10-year-old girl, going to the Olympics would be the ultimate satisfaction. She does tell us that she wants to give back to her sport, however, by helping and supporting other athletes.

As any mother would, Nancy wants Justine fulfill all of her dreams.

“It would be fantastic if she could go to the Nationals and earn a scholarship. If she gets a scholarship, it will make me happy that she is happy. That is my only goal,” assures her mother.

While gymnastics is currently a big part of Justine’s life, she also loves to play piano and takes private lessons once a week. She also loves to swim in the family pool and play with her brother, Antoine, and her numerous pets.