By Ricardo Ascencio | [email protected]

Iowa junior Cory Paterson is not only making his name in American college gymnastics, he is also stamping his mark in his home country of Canada.

Paterson has recently returned from Halifax, Nova Scotia, after competing in the 2016 Elite Canada Artistic Gymnastics Championships. He placed seventh in the all-around competition at 79.100 and third on high bar with a score of 13.600.

The junior is trying to secure his spot on this year’s Canadian Olympic gymnastics team for the upcoming 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Paterson should like his chances in representing Canada in the Olympics; he was selected to the Canadian National Gymnastics team last year after coming in fifth place in the 2015 Canadian Gymnastics Championships.

“I still have to go through the Olympic Trials to compete for Canada, but I am on the national team, so I feel I have a shot,” he said.

Canada is not known for producing elite gymnasts but it has definitely polished a gem in Paterson.

“Hockey is still the big thing in Canada, but thanks to my sister and some of the programs they have there, I was able to start early,” he said.

Paterson, a native of Oakville, Ontario, wasted no time getting into the sport, starting his training at 3.

Throughout his career in grade school, Paterson excelled in gymnastics, and he has made the Canadian National Gymnastics Team seven times.

Paterson’s success continued throughout the later years of his high-school career; he claimed three-straight Canadian National Championships.

While he had no problem achieving greatness in his home, he knew he needed to move south of the border to take his game to another level.

“There is no NCAA gymnastics program in Canada,” he said, “I wanted to experience the team environment, and I have always been training with guys who are younger than me, so I wanted to be on a team with kids my age and my level to push me harder.”

Paterson competed in every meet during the past two seasons, competing in the Big Ten Championships in both years. He garnered a 13.800 and a 14.350 on high bar in back-to-back years, good enough to place 13th both times.

The junior fully embraces his life as a Hawkeye, and his teammates are glad he brought his talents to Iowa City.

“He is very motivating … not only is he a hard worker, but he is fun to be around,” junior Mark Springett said. “He keeps the energy going, he keeps the energy high. He is constantly helping out, making sure [we] get done what we need to get done.”

The entire team is happy to have Paterson on its side and even though he will potentially compete for a rival nation in Rio de Janeiro, there is no loss of respect for the fellow Hawkeye.

“He’s my teammate, he’s my brother and just like how he roots and cheers for me in competition,” said redshirt-senior Cyrus Dobre-Mofid. “I will always root for him.”

Paterson is nursing a wrist injury, but Iowa head coach JD Reive believes he should be back in action by the end of the season.

With the postseason and the coveted 2016 Summer Olympics ahead, Paterson could cement his name in gymnastics history and also make Iowa City and his home of Ontario proud.