Canada's Rene Cournoyer competes on the floor exercise during Men's Qualifications at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, Sunday, Oct.1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Virginia Mayo
ANTWERP, Belgium – Canada is sending a men’s gymnastics team to the Olympics for the first time since 2008.
Needing a top-12 finish in the team qualification to clinch an Olympic berth, Canada placed fourth at the world artistic gymnastics championships on Sunday to secure their spot.
The group of René Cournoyer, Félix Dolci, William Émard, Jayson Rampersad, Zachary Clay and Yanni Chronopoulos will be headed to the 2024 Paris Games thanks to their 249.26 score.
Cournoyer is the lone member of the team with prior Olympic experience.
The Repentigny, Que., native competed at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2023.