Kenji Tamane represents the Canadian National gymnastic team at competitions abroad. Courtesy photo.
Alderwood’s Kenji Tamane is a top Canadian gymnast who is on his way to achieving his dream of competing for his country in an upcoming Olympic Games.
Tamane, 20, and members of the Canadian gymnastics team left Canada on July 10 to compete in two major international competitions that will help propel him to his goal; to represent Canada in the 2024 or 2028 Olympic Games.
Kenji’s team member Rene will also be taking part in the international games abroad.
“I am very excited and looking forward to the competition,” Tamane said before catching a flight at Pearson Airport. “I will be competing with the Canadian team at the Pan Am and Commonwealth Games.”
He is in the gym training daily and was a member of the Junior Canadian National Team in 2018 and 2019.
Tamane placed fourth in the rings competition at the 2019 Canadian Championships.
At the 2018 Championships, the athlete placed first on rings, second on pommel horse, third in the all-around, fourth on high bar and fifth on parallel bars. He also came in second at Canadian National Championships in May 2022.
KENJI’s goal is to compete for Canada in the Olympic Games.
“I specialize in the rings and competitive gymnastics and hold several medals in Canada for the sport,” he said “My goal is to place in the top three in the Pan Am and Commonwealth Games.”
The former Silverthorn Collegiate Institute Computer student is training full time these days in a bid to achieve an Olympic gold or other medals for himself, or the Canadian delegation.
His family moved to the Alderwood area about five years ago so Kenji, and his brother, can train at Toronto Gymnastics International (TGI) at 77 Brown’s Line.
Tamane and some of the Canadian squad will be competing at the 2022 Pan American Gymnastics Championships which runs from July 15 to 17 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
They then fly to Britain to train and get ready to compete in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games that runs from July 28 to August 8, in Birmingham.
KENJI working hard for Olympic success. Courtesy photos.
The Commonwealth Games is televised and the competition is tough. Team Canada will compete against the 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth across 19 different sports.
The 2024 Summer Olympics Games will take place from July 26 to August 11 in Paris, France.