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Rhythmic gymnast Ashley Wilwand (right) and her coach, Jennifer Merrell, are hoping for a gold medal haul in London, Ont. (AVI SAPER)

Ashley Wilwand wasn’t sure if she liked Greek food, but the rhythmic gymnast sure was eager to find out as she sat down for lunch with her fellow members of Team Manitoba last week.

The group was chowing down for one of its final meals at home before heading off to the 2010 Special Olympics Canada National Summer Games.

Wilwand, like all 73 athletes representing the province in London, Ont., from July 13 to 17, had her sights set on qualifying for the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens.

"It’s pretty much what I’ve got my goal set to," said the 15-year-old Garden City resident. "I’d love to go to Athens. I’m just going to try my hardest and see what happens."

The London event will be the first national games for Wilwand, who just completed Grade 10 at Garden City Collegiate. She did, however, recently compete in the Defi Sportif in Montreal, where she won five gold medals.

"It’ll have a big influence on my performance," she said of the Montreal competition. "I’m up against 10 other girls though, so it’ll be tough."

Wilwand took up rhythmic gymnastics five years ago at the St. James Streamers club, after watching her sisters participating in the sport.

"I was watching them for about the first five minutes and said, ‘Mom, can I have $25? I want to join this.’"

Her background in Ukrainian dancing gave Wilwand a comfort level performing in front of large audiences, and she steadily improved her skills with the ball, rope, ribbon and clubs.

Jennifer Merrell, Wilwand’s coach of the last three years, said the ribbon is probably her pupil’s strongest apparatus.

"Her technique is very good with the ribbon," Merrell said. "I think she’s going to do quite well."

The coach agreed that having a chance to compete out-of-province earlier in the year will give Wilwand a better chance to succeed in London.

"It’ll serve her very well," she said. "It was her first time being away from home, so it was a good warm-up to being away for a week, learning to go with the flow and having different things happen that you’re not expecting."

If Wilwand needs any advice on handling all the pressures of a national event, she can turn to track and field athlete Arthur Piché, who has been a Special Olympian for 22 years and will be competing in his seventh National Games.

"It’s just a lot of fun," said the 31-year-old Elmwood resident, who will compete in the 3,000 and 5,000 metres and the long jump. "I love to keep on competing."

Piché has been close to the podium on several occasions both in track and in Nordic skiing at the winter games, and is hoping to get over the hump this year and make it to Athens.

"My training went pretty good, and I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in," he said.

Joining the athletes on Team Manitoba will be 26 coaches and mission staff. More than 1,400 athletes will be competing in eight sports in London.

For results throughout the event, visit www.london2010.ca.

avi.saper@canstarnews.com