THE SPORT OF GYMNASTICS doesn'tget much publicity in Barbados.

But that may be about to change.

Barbados' national gymnastics team is now basking in the glory of its best ever international performance, after claiming a number of trophies at the annual Puerto Rico International Gymnastics Festival last week.

The Barbados team brought home five all-around trophies, seven gold medals, three silver, and four bronze, along with numerous medals for gymnasts placing in the Top 10.

"This competition was an excellent opportunity for the team to test its abilities in a more open field of athletes," coach Allison Jackson told the NATIONSPORT.

"It is nice to know that not only can we compete successfully within our region at these levels, but also in an international forum. We will now have to look for more challenging meets, perhaps in the United States and Canada."

The local squad finished sixth in the team event.

In the Level 6 category, LaToya Ince earned the all-around title, winning gold medals on the vault, beam and floor exercise, plus a silver medal on the uneven bars.

In the Level 5, for gymnasts in the 10-11 age group, Gabrielle Smith won the gold on the uneven bars, and bronze on vault, earning her a third place finish in the all-around competition.

Kaileigh Bennett-Walcott performed well on the floor exercises, earning her a sixth place spot.

Taylor Clarke, competing in the Level 5 competition for athletes 12 years and over, was fourth on the vault, and fifth in the all- around competition.

In the Level 4 action for the 10-11 age group, Danielle Best won the first place all-around title, inclusive of gold in the floor exercise, and bronze on the uneven bars and beam.

Zoe Hooper won the gold medal on the uneven bars and was fourth on both the beam and floor, good enough for a bronze in the all-around.

Maya Millington won a silver medal on balance beam, and placed fifth in the all around competition.

In the Level 3 competition, nine-year-old Georgia Daniels, one of the team's youngest members, earned a silver in the all-around through winning a gold medal on the balance beam, and a fourth place on the uneven bars.

Alisa Ince performed well in the floor exercise, earning a fourth place and sixth on the balance beam.

In the Level 3 competition, seven-year-old category, Aria Small won the bronze medal on the uneven bars and also earned a fourth place finish on the floor.

Eight-year-old Nikita Terho, competing in the Level 3 category, won the silver medal on the balance beam and was fifth on the bars.

The Barbados team was financed by millionaire race-horse owner Eugene Melnyk, and Berts Sports Bar. (BA)