Twelve competitive baton twirlers from Airdrie strutted their stuff at the World Baton Twirling Federation’s 2019 International Cup in Limoges, France, Aug. 5 to 8.
The event, which takes place every two years, featured more than 1,200 twirlers from nearly 20 countries.
Among Canada’s cohort were athletes from the Airdrie Sky High Twirlers (ASHT), ranging in age from 12 to 17.
“Just the overall experience is something you’ll never forget – every other athlete cheers for you while you’re performing and the support you receive from everyone is incredible,” said 17-year-old Miyah Kailey, who competed in the team event, as well as the 2-baton, artistic-twirl and artistic-pair events.
“It’s super stressful until the moment you take the floor, and then the music starts playing and you feel like, ‘I’ve got this – I’ve done it a thousand times.’”
Along with Kailey, ASHT members included Marissa Bieleny, Kensey and Paige Epp, Emily Lewall, Emily Mathewson, Brooke Mauro, Mikayla McDonald, Kendall Patton, Kayley White, Anna Wiedemann and Claire Zeeb.
Airdrie’s top performers included Lewall, who took home bronze in the solo, silver in the artistic-twirl and gold in the 3-baton events for her age group.
Another ASHT athlete with multiple medals was Bieleny. She earned bronze medals in the artistic-twirl and 3-baton events for her age group.
Other medallists included Wiedemann and the Epp sisters, who all finished third in the 3-baton events for their age groups.
While this was Kailey’s third time competing at the International Cup – she competed in Croatia two years ago and in Abbotsford, B.C., four years ago – she said the atmosphere in Limoges was an entirely new experience.
“I definitely found it was a lot louder, and the French baton fans are crazy,” she said. “They scream and make so much noise, so that was a big change. It really gets your nerves going and there’s a lot more adrenaline from it.”
Kailey, who is entering her senior year at George McDougall High School this fall, said the event in France was her last baton-twirling competition.
“It’s time for me to end it and focus more on school and opening up a new chapter,” she said. “I’m definitely going to miss it a lot and the people I’ve met.
“None of this would have been possible without our coaches and the incredible support they gave us, and the inspiration – believing in us definitely is what makes us capable of doing these competitions.”
Along with the competition, ASHT members enjoyed their trip to Europe, which included sightseeing excursions in Paris before the competition and a cruise to Spain and Italy afterwards.
“We did the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Arc – everything touristy,” Kailey said.
