Team Canada is heading into Rio with not only the incredible success of 2012 to spur them on, but also with two athletes from that team to lead the way. Ellie Black and Brittany Rogers are Team Canada's veterans, and they have made huge impacts on this team and the future of Canadian gymnastics.

Black was a new senior in 2012 without much international experience before the Games, but she showed up strong in London to help Canada finish fifth in the team final--the country's best team finish in history. Since then, she has only improved her strength, difficulty, and consistency.

For Black, it's time to show off all her hard work at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.



FloGymnastics: How have you been feeling throughout 2016 knowing the Olympics are on the horizon?
Ellie Black: It's been an exciting year, qualifying a full team and preparing for the Olympic Games this summer. Time has flown by, and it's crazy that the 2016 Olympics are almost here.

How are you helping out the younger members of the team, like Isabela Onyshko and especially Rose Kaying-Woo?
It's awesome that we have two returning Olympians on this team. Brittany and I can share our knowledge and competition experiences with the younger ones on the team. Hopefully, this will help everyone feel confident, excited and knowing a bit of what to expect when we arrive in Rio. Last time, I was one of the young girls on the team, so I know how they are feeling and want to help them to enjoy the whole experience and be at their best!



You were the "baby" in 2012, and now you are a key leader. How has your role on the team changed?
I was one of the young ones--didn't have much international competition experience, and I didn't know what to expect. I really relied on the more experienced girls on the team as leaders going into the Games. Since then, I have gained more experience, confidence and learned so much as an athlete and person. As more of a leader now, I want to pass that on to the rest of the team so it can hopefully benefit us in Rio. It's an incredible experience competing at the Olympics, so I want us all to have great performances and show just what we are capable of!

You've really devoted everything to the sport--what does it feel like to have that hard work pay off?
I love gymnastics. It is tons of hard work, but it has so many amazing moments that make it all worthwhile. Helping qualify a team was one of the most rewarding moments for me; knowing five Canadian girls have the chance to make their dreams a reality and share in the amazing opportunity of representing Canada at the Olympics. These moments make you feel so proud of everyone's hard work, and I hope many others are inspired to work hard for their dreams.

To have experienced another whole Olympic quad is pretty amazing, and I have just been taking it day by day. That's what I will continue to do and focus on in Rio.

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