For Shaun Porter and Tony Nguyen, being part of Yukon sports history is nothing too new.

The two local gymnasts were already members of the first-ever full boys team the territory entered at the Western championships, not to mention the fact Porter became the first Yukon gymnast to be invited to a high-performance training camp last fall.

Still, the two athletes are brimming with excitement at the chance to attend the national championships in Missisauga, Ont. next week the first time any male gymnast from the territory has attended nationals.

'I'm very excited and very pumped,' said Nguyen in an interview at practice Wednesday evening. 'It's going to be really intense and really fun.'

Porter agreed the trip will be a lot of fun, although both athletes admitted the competition may be a bit intimidating this year's nationals are also the 2004 Olympic trials for Team Canada.

'(It's) a little bit (intimidating), but we have a couple of strong events we can do really well in,' said Nguyen, whose best events are usually floor and vault.

'There's a lot more competition because it's the whole country instead of just Western Canada,' added Porter, who normally performs very well on pommels.

Both gymnasts have been moved up from Level 4, which they performed in at Westerns, to Level 5 in preparation for Missisauga. Porter said while he feels they were ready for the jump, they're not very strong Level 5 competitors yet.

'They have most of what they need,' said coach Kelly Mock. 'It will put them in the majority of Level 5 competitors at nationals, right in the pack with all the entry Level 5s.

'Their start scores are definitely very respectable and their routine scores are very respectable. Tony has a maximum start score on floor.'

Mock said their start scores will definitely escalate from this year's nationals to next year. He felt it was important to move them up to the next level this year to give them the experience at nationals and an opportunity to see what Level 5 is all about.

'It's going to be a great motivator for them to take steps to get there,' he said. 'These guys have come a long way. Having Westerns here was in large part the motivation for them to want to go further.

'And of course, the 2007 Canada Games being here is also motivation. Westerns gave them the opportunity to see how close they actually are and to see they are in fact good gymnasts, even though they're from the North.'

Mock's ultimate plan for both Porter and Nguyen, and eventually young gymnasts Jasper Martin and George Rivard, involves the 2007 Games. He hopes to move Porter and Nguyen up to Level 6 in about two-and-a-half years, since you are evaluated under that level at Canada Games. Their first Level 6 competition won't be until about two months before the Games.

'I want to give them the opportunity to become more comfortable at Level 5 and give them the opportunity for more success,' he explained, noting that after Canada Games, the athletes don't have to stay at Level 6, they can go back down if they want.

The first test for Martin and Rivard will hopefully be the 2005 nationals.

While the coach doesn't realistically expect any top five finishes at the national level just yet, he believes Porter and Nguyen will be successful at both high profile events.

'Based on their programs right now, I think they're going to represent the Yukon very well,' he said. 'These guys look artistic. These guys have good style and they have good presentation. Those are the types of things that make gymnasts successful.'

Porter and Nguyen have been training four times a week, which is normal, in preparation for Missisauga. Mock said they've been working a lot on pommels, which have been somewhat inconsistent the past few weeks.

'The distance between Level 4 and 5 is substantial enough to provide them with a significant challenge,' he said. 'But sometimes all it takes is getting to nationals.

'Pommels is a lot like riding a horse. You just try to stay on.'

That philosophy is one both athletes can appreciate. Sometime the most important thing is just to stick the routine and do your best while in it.

'I just want to do my routines cleanly and well and try not to fall,' smiled Porter, who will be performing in front of his grandparents for the first time. They live near the competition site.

'My grandparents are going to come watch so that will be pretty cool.'

'(I want) to hit all my routines and get a pretty good, decent score,' said Nguyen. 'I really wanted to be in Level 5 and go to nationals this year, because there are going to be a lot of serious gymnasts.'

Mock believes the Olympic trials may in fact be the real experience for the young athletes.

'That alone is a great opportunity,' he stated. 'They're going to have a chance to see the best in Canada, when they're at their best.

'We're going to watch the seniors train while we're there and take full advantage.'

It's the first time since 1988 Canada has qualified two full teams, both a men's and women's, for the Olympics.

In their excitement, it almost escaped Porter and Nguyen that they too are setting a first next week, for the Yukon.

'It's really awesome,' said Nguyen. 'But we have to keep our focus and hit our routines.'

The local gymnast credits Mock with the team's continued success over the past few years.

'He's made us more dedicated to the sport and worked us hard,' he said.

The coach remained modest in his reply, insisting it's just having a plan.

'It's all about preparation,' he said. 'If you're meticulous with the process, you're going to end up with a good product.'

Mock will join Porter and Nguyen on the plane headed to Missisauga Sunday morning. The Yukoners won't actually compete until next Thursday, then they return home the following Monday.

Nationals are the last competition of the season, although the competitive gymnasts will still train three to four times a week during the off-season. The first competition next season won't be until February 2005.

The Polarettes and Polar Tumblers Gymnastics Club is holding a summer camp for kids aged 6-12, with activities ranging from gymnastics to swimming and arts and crafts. The camp runs June 14 to August 20 and kids can sign up for all ten weeks or just one week.

Registration is already underway and can be completed Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the gymnastics facility located in Riverdale, attached to Vanier Cathlolic Secondary School. For more information, call 668-GYM (4794).