Ellie Black defends all-around title at Canadian championships

Ellie Black of Halifax defended her senior all-around title in artistic gymnastics and captured her fifth overall at the Canadian championships on Sunday in Waterloo, Ont.

The 22-year-old won four individual apparatus medals, including gold on the uneven bars and beam, silver on floor and bronze in vault to wrap up the competition with 111.607 points.

Black, who is fresh off two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Australia last month, won last year's all-around title at the Canadian championships in Montreal.

"It was incredible being back here competing with the girls," said Black.

"To come out here and to finish with another Canadian Championship title is great — it wasn't really my goal coming in to this weekend, I was just looking to do good gymnastics — but I was really proud of everyone's performances this weekend."

Isabela Onyshko of Brandon, Man., finished second in the all-around rankings with 106.406 points, while Jade Chrobok of Toronto came in third with 105.647 points.

Shallon Olsen of Surrey, B.C., captured gold on vault for the third year in a row and also picked up a first-place finish on the floor.

"It feels amazing," said Olsen.

"All the hours I've spent in the gym have finally paid off. Being out there on the competition floor, with all of my teammates from across Canada feels really good, and I'm really happy with this competition, and for the future."

On the men's side, Rene Cournoyer of Repentigny, Que., took home his first senior all-around title after earning medals in all six apparatus finals, including gold in vault.

"It's been a huge weekend. It was a lot of fun and I'm very happy with everything I did," said Cournoyer.

Other gold-medal winners from the men's side include: Scott Morgan of Vancouver on the floor, Thierry Pellerin of Levi, Que., on pommel horse, Chris Kaji of Vancouver on rings, Justin Karstadt of Toronto on parallel bars and Kevin Lytwyn of Hamilton in high bar.