What to know ahead of 1st in-person Canadian Artistic Gymnastics Championships since 2019

It's been a long time coming, but the day has nearly arrived.

This year's Canadian Artistic Gymnastics Championships will be held in-person for the first time since 2019 at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, B.C., from May 26-31.

There has been an excitement building ahead of the event, with athletes finally being able to compete as they did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I know the athletes are super excited to get back on the competition floor with each other and also having judges there present," Kyle Shewfelt, a Canadian gymnastics analyst and 2004 Olympic gold medallist, told CBC Sports. "Everything's been virtual, so there's an energy and excitement — [there's] a bit of buzz around these championships."

WATCH | CBC Sports' Kyle Shewfelt previews championships in Richmond:

With the return of a handful of Olympians, especially on the women's side, there will be plenty to watch as all the athletes begin their journey toward the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.

The 26-year-old is seen as the favourite to stake her claim as Canada's best.

"She is in her prime. She has figured out what routines work for her. I suspect that Ellie Black will run away with the title here," Shewfelt said. "She's such a professional. She just takes such good care of herself in her gymnastics and she just continues to improve."

Joining her will be fellow Olympians Shallon Olsen, Ava Stewart, and Rose-Kaying Woo.

Olsen, a native of Surrey, B.C., finished seventh at the Tokyo Games in the vault competition, following up a national title in the event in 2019 and a fourth-place finish at the world championships that year as well. The 21-year-old won silver at the 2018 world championships in the vault as well.

Currently competing for the