Still four months shy of her 14th birthday, Lucia Jakab is already on Gymnastics Canada害羞草研究所檚 radar for the 2020 Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo.

A member of the Okanagan Gymnastics Centre, Lucia was named last month to the Canadian national junior team, the top developmental program for the sport害羞草研究所檚 up-and-coming athletes.

The 13-year-old from Lake Country recently returned from Sarnia, Ont., where she and eight other young artistic gymnasts spent a week training together at the 2020 Olympic Hopefuls camp.

害羞草研究所淲e tried to learn new skills and we showed our abilties to other coaches,害羞草研究所� Lucia said. 害羞草研究所淚t was good to get a different point of view from other coaches.害羞草研究所�

Lucia took up recreational gymnastics at OGC in Kelowna at the age of eight, then began competing two years later. According to her mom, Tatiana Jakab, Lucia has been a quick study in her chosen sport.

害羞草研究所淪he grew into it very fast,害羞草研究所� Tatiana Jakab said of Lucia害羞草研究所檚 abilities in the gym. 害羞草研究所淥riginally, she didn害羞草研究所檛 enjoy the competition that much, she害羞草研究所檚 still adjusting but it害羞草研究所檚 getting better. Last year was her first year competing internationally, so she害羞草研究所檚 still finding her way.害羞草研究所�

Lucia made her breakthrough on the international stage this spring, placing seventh out of 20 competitors at Gymnix in Montreal.

Then in May, at the Canadian Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Montreal, Gymnastics Canada really stood up and took notice when Lucia won a silver medal in the vault.

Weeks later, she had a spot on the national team.

害羞草研究所淚 was kind of speechless,害羞草研究所� said Lucia, who is coached locally by Sergei Chelest. 害羞草研究所淚t felt great to be picked for the team.害羞草研究所�

As for the prospects of one day competing for Canada at the Olympic Games, it害羞草研究所檚 an enticing thought for Lucia but not one plans to focus on in the near future.

害羞草研究所淚 think about it a little bit,害羞草研究所� Lucia said, 害羞草研究所渂ut right now my first goal is to keep competing, keep improving and get a scholarship.害羞草研究所�