Two gymnasts from Richmond earned top honours at the 2025 Artistic and Trampoline Gymnastics B.C. Championships that took place in Surrey from April 6 to 9.
Kiran Nadkarni, representing Pacific Shore Gymnastics, and Meher Bains, competing with the Richmond Gymnastics Association, both took home gold medals in their respective events.
Nadkarni claimed first place in the junior men's all-around B.C. championship category.
"I feel great — it was really unbelievable," said the Grade 10 Steveston-London student, who admitted he hadn't expected to win.
"After I won, I was just in disbelief, my parents were in disbelief and my coach was in disbelief."
Nadkarni's victory at provincials secured him a spot on Team B.C., securing him a spot at the national championships this May in Calgary, Alta.
He described being able to represent Team B.C. as an honour as it will be his first time competing on the national stage.
"I just hope to have a good time and make sure that I enjoy my experience. I'm not too concerned with how I do because it's my first time competing nationally."
Bains also had a strong showing, capturing gold in the older girls' level 8 all-around Canadian Competitive Program category. She competed in all four events — bars, beams, floor and vault.
"I felt really happy and proud of myself and my results," said Bains, a Grade 11 student at R.C. Palmer secondary.
She highlighted her success due to the support from her coaches, Veronika Pathak, Todd Millway and Pete Mitchell.
"It is through their commitment and hard work as coaches that they have gotten me this far."
Later this month, Bains will compete as part of Team BC at the Western Canadian Championships in Saskatchewan, where she hopes to lead her team to a first-place finish.
When asked what she hopes to achieve at the Western championships, she is aiming to improve on her provincial scores.
"I would want to basically do as well as I did at this competition, if not a little better," said Bains. But her team ranking is her top priority.
"I don't think there's so much as individual competition. It's more about being a team and competing as a team."
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