Two Huskers Named to World Championship Teams

Sophomore Emma Spence and freshman Csenge Bácskay have been named to their national teams and are set to travel to Liverpool, England, for the 2022 World Gymnastics Championships, Oct. 29-Nov. 6.

Nebraska Head Coach Heather Brink said the two competitors at Worlds provide the Huskers with a unique position in the international landscape of women’s gymnastics.

“We are very excited for both Csenge and Emma who have been chosen to represent their home countries at the World Championships,” Brink said. “We are certainly proud that Nebraska is the only university program to have two gymnasts compete on such a stage among the world’s greatest gymnasts. I have no doubts that they will achieve their own individual goals with Husker pride. Their Husker family will be watching and cheering them on.” 

Spence will compete at her first World Championships for Team Canada. 

“I am so excited to have another opportunity to represent Canada on the world stage,” Spence said. “This is going to be my first time competing at the World Championships, and my main goals are to embrace the experience, trust myself and my gymnastics and enjoy the moment.”

Spence competed on every event at all 11 meets in her first year with Nebraska. She competed for Team Canada at the Commonwealth Games in August 2022, earning a bronze medal in the all-around and team competition. 

Bácskay will compete in her second World Championships for Team Hungary. 

“I am really happy that I can compete at my second World Championships as an NCAA gymnast,” Bácskay said. “It will be so fun to compete with Emma together.”

Bácskay competed at the 2021 World Gymnastics Championships for Team Hungary in Kitakyushu, Japan, qualifying for the vault and all-around finals. She finished fifth on vault and 21st in the all-around competition. 

The World Gymnastics Championships (Oct. 29-Nov. 6) will take place at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England. The competition schedule is below:

• Women’s Qualifications – Saturday, Oct. 29 – Sunday, Oct. 30
• Women’s Team Final – Tuesday, Nov. 1 
• Women’s Individual All-Around Final – Thursday, Nov. 3 
• Women’s Vault and Uneven Bars Finals – Saturday, Nov. 5 
• Women’s Balance Beam and Floor Finals – Sunday, Nov. 6