At the age of 23, Victoria’s Michael Hood is thinking about retiring from competitive gymnastics. Maya Rahn is a 14-year-old who will be trying this week to make an impact on the national stage.

Both Hood and Rahn will be carrying Victoria’s colours on Thursday at the Canadian Gymnastics Championships in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

“I’m getting close to the end of my career,’’ said Hood. “It will be soon but I haven’t made the final decision yet. I injured my shoulder recently and it still bothers me. The body just can’t take that huge punishment from gymnastics all the time.’’

Hood does some training at Victoria Gymnastics while Rahn is based out of Lion’s Pride Gymnastics in Langford. They both are frequent ferry users going to Delta and Langley for more training sessions.

“I go to Delta during the season about once a week,’’ said Hood.

“There is more equipment and a higher level of coaches. There are also more guys to compete against. There are very few competitive men gymnasts in Victoria.’’

“From January to May, I go to the Langley Events Centre almost every weekend,’’ said Rahn. “I get to work with some outstanding coaches and I also get feedback from judges.’’

Rahn will be making her first trip to nationals while Hood has lost count — either seven or eight.

“I’m a bit nervous and excited,’’ said Rahn. “This will be a great experience for me.’’

Both have set goals of reaching the finals.

The men have six disciplines in their all-around event — floor exercises, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar. The women’s routines are uneven parallel bars, balance beam, floor exercise and vault.

“My best finish was eighth last year on the pommel horse,’’ said Hood. “I’ve also had a 13th-place all-around finish. I would love to get to another final [top eight] this year.’’

Hood likes to perform on the pommel horse and floor exercises.

Hood is also kept busy by refereeing soccer and taking computer science classes at the University of Victoria.

“My parents put me in gymnastics because I was a very active kid,’’ said Hood. “I liked to run and jump around and I’ve been doing it now for 15 years.’’

Rahn attends Oak Bay High School and she played a little soccer before turning her full attention to gymnastics.

“When I was six, I attended a spring gymnastics camp,’’ said Rahn.

“It was a lot of fun. I then tried out for a competitive team and I made it. The best part of gymnastics for me is flying through the air. My favourite gymnastic events are vault and floor exercises.’’

rrauch@timescolonist.com