Forward It was late 2006 when, after attending yet another funeral of a significant gymnastics person, it became clear to me that a History of Gymnastics should be written before most of our knowledge of Ontario gymnastics was lost. I talked to Holly Abraham, the CEO of GO, about this project. She asked if I would chair a group to document Ontario’s rich history of gymnastics. Since I had always loved gymnastics, coached at the high school, university and club level, founded a gymnastics club, served as president of OGF in the 80’s, and judged at the Sydney Olympics, I felt I had the broad base understanding to take on this daunting task. Personally, I believe we never adequately herald our heroes; this book is one way to ensure they are remembered. Thus the task began. Many long time gymnastic folk were asked to help. First to “sign up” was Mary Nichol, the anchor of Burlington Gymnastics, a high school coach, an outstanding athlete herself, a Brevet judge and leader of the recreational development program for OGF in the 80’s and long time Board member/Executive Director of BGC.
Next, Mary Lea and Geoff Palmer, with their wealth of knowledge and interest of Women’s Gymnastics, having coached from the late 60’s through the 1992 Olympics, came on board. As volunteer coaches they opened the first full time training facility, Xoces-Eagles and then the first summer camp, Canadette Sports Camp for girls’ gymnastics, producing numerous national team athletes along the way. Then George Curran, a Life Member of GO, came on board. George became involved in gymnastics when his son, Matt began training at the BG’s in Burlington. George later became president of the BG’s. From 1991 to 1995 he was president of OGF and laterally an active Board member with the Burlington Gymnastics Club. After a drive to Burlington, Steve and Brigitte Mitruk were on board. The range of their knowledge spans 5 decades - Steve on the OGF Board and Brigitte as Chair of the T and T committee. Steve met his wife, Brigitte at the Germania Club – where Steve was training for the Olympics. They founded the BG’s boy’s club and raised Terry, a national gymnast and judge and Chris, a World Champion in Double Mini Tramp.
Writing Team
Steve Mitruk, Brigitte Mitruk, Mary Lea Palmer, Pat Leith, Susan Harris, Mary Nichol, George Curran, Geoff Palmer (absent - Holly Abraham)
At the 2007 GO Annual General Meeting in Orangeville the Palmers headed off to the new Twisters Gym where a coaches’ clinic was taking place to obtain information from the coaches. Mary asked the presidents of long time clubs to send her information. I secured another key person, Pat Leith. Pat founded Scarborough Olympians, served on the OGF Board of Directors and Chair of the Coaching Committee in the early years. 35 years later she is still coaching. Being one writer shy, Holly Abraham volunteered to join the writing team. She has been involved in gymnastics for most of her life, was the Administrative Director of Gymnastics Mississauga and a GO Board member 1992-1995. Currectly Holly is a Brevet judge in Aerobic gymnastics and is now the Chief Executive Officer of GO None of us realized how difficult our task would be – digging out information, stories, photos and data from old reports, minutes and news articles. We met once a month creating some structure and substance for this “book” that we were determined to produce. None of us was experienced in this area so a few outside experts gave us a hand. We all love the sport of gymnastics and were willing to volunteer our time and efforts towards this task. Our goal was to write a hard cover book that all would be proud of; however, if all that was possible was a simpler version, then so be it. It had to be printed.
One concern that always came up at our meetings was the number of errors and omissions that, in spite of our good intentions, were bound to occur in this publication. We agreed that it was probably inevitable, but so be it. Perhaps these mistakes can be corrected in a subsequent publication. The most grievous error however, must not happen - that of not writing the book at all! I hope you enjoy reading about our proud history as much as the committee has enjoyed researching, remembering and writing it. Special thanks are extended to the following individuals for their assistance: Carole Abrahams, Kathy and Dave Arnold, Lillian Babineau, Alex Bard, Margo Bulmar, Elisabeth Bureaud, Tamara Bompa, Jean-Paul Caron, Grace Chin, Slava Corn, Tobie Gorman, Traci House, John Hummel, Hardy Fink, Nota Klentrou, Maxine McKenzie, Masaaki Naosaki, Nutzenberger family, Teresa Orr, Bill Perkins, Verna Roberston, Andy Shaw, Lise Simard, Dave Ross, Bonnie Temple, Kaarina Tulisalo, Debbie Vidmar, Tom Zivic and especially Terri Parsons, the Voice of Gymnastics.
We remember many of our founders who are no longer with us: Dr. Bryce Taylor – chair of York HPE Dept , President of CAC and Commonwealth Gymnastics Federation (1989) Eugene Oryszczyn – dedicated judge of 2 Olympics, 10 World’s and coach of all gymnasts who “came to his gym door” (1997) Ed Brougham - President of East York Gym Club, Chair of Metro East, and President of OGF and CGF (2001) Carol Anne Letheren – the first Woman’s Technical Chair of OGF, Olympic judge, CEO of Canada’s Olympic Association (2001) Karl Nutzenberger –founder of Harmony gymnastics and North York Turners, OGF coaching chair (2003) John Nooney - founded 3 gym clubs, Director of Sport Ontario, passed on his love of Gymnastics to thousands of young boys (2003) Albert Dippong - brevet judge for 24 years with strong roots in Europe as a competitor (2006) Frank Juhasz – first gymnast to earn USA scholarship, first inspirational leader of trampoline in Canada (2007) John Hunter - founding president of OGF (2007)
Susan Harris
Contents - A Historical Review of Gymnastics in Ontario Reflections
I Remember when . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Early Gymnastics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
History of Gymnastics Clubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Moving the Mat – how the gym has changed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Role Played by Schools and Universities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
History of Rhythmic Gymnastics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Under the Pencil – how judging has changed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Recollections
Yearly recollections from the early years to 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Records
OGF/GO winners of significant awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Olympic, World, Pan American Games, Commonwealth teams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Ontario teams to Canada Games . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Certified coaches and Brevet judges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Coaches Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Presidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Athletes who earned scholarships to US Colleges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Events (national and international) hosted in Ontario . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Clubs in Review
Detailed summaries provided by longstanding clubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Content of this publication belongs with the authors. No reproduction is permitted without written permission of the Authors. The content of this publication is as accurate as was submitted and available. We apologize for any errors and omissions. Cover design by Christopher Mitruk. Book design by Lynn Waghorne. Printed by Fawcett Printing and Imaging.
Greetings from Gymnastics Ontario On the occasion of our 40th Anniversary the Board
We hope that you will enjoy reading this book. Perhaps it will bring back
of Directors of Gymnastics Ontario is very pleased
some fond memories. For all of us it provides treasured information about
with the production of this book – Reflections,
the development of our sport and the contribution of those who have laid the
Recollections and Records - A Historical Review of
foundation and have made our sport what it is today.
Gymnastics in Ontario. This document is a testament not only to the achievements of our Federation and our members but also to the outstanding commitment of our volunteers and staff.
Angel Crossman President, Gymnastics Ontario 2002 - 2008
The members of the committee who created this book are individuals who have been a vital part of our organization in various capacities from the early years of our history to the present. They, under the leadership of Susan Harris, researched
It is hard to believe that forty years have passed since The Ontario Gymnastics
and assimilated the information and photographs, assembled the contents
Federation was created. I am happy to be part of this incredible organization.
and arranged for the editing and publishing of this book. Their dedication as
Thank you to our technical committees and staff who are the knowledge and
individuals and as a team has culminated in the production of this detailed
experience, the coaches and judges who are the passion, the athletes who are
recollection and record of the history of our Federation, of gymnastics in Ontario
the purpose and the volunteers and the clubs who are the heart. I hope that
and of the accomplishments of our athletes, coaches, judges, clubs and volunteers.
you will enjoy this book to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Gymnastics
We can and should be proud of what has been achieved in our sport and by our
Ontario. I hope you will be proud of our past, thrilled with our present and look
members – the impressive results of our athletes and coaches and the continued
forward to a great future.
dedication of our volunteers and judges. There will be many of us who were not a part of the beginning years of our organization or perhaps do not remember the details of the events that have shaped our Federation. This book will serve as a recollection and compilation of the events of our past and our present. It is up to us to ensure that we continue to keep a record of the achievements in the future which will add to our history.
Holly Abraham Chief Executive Officer Gymnastics Ontario
I remember when... Elfi Schlegel remembers her first gymnastics trip away from home. “The trip was to Oregon with Gary Goodson; then we went on to Vancouver for Elite Canada where I placed 10th AA. I felt like I was the luckiest girl in the world because I had so many ‘big’ sisters with me on my first gymnastics trip - Sandra Henderson, Susan Brougham, Marie Watts - all 15 year olds and I was 10 years old. But it was Easter morning that I remember so well, because Sandra had brought some Easter chocolates and placed them on my pillow for Easter morning.”
Elfi Schlegel remembers sitting on the grass with her mother and sister, Andrea, in Edmonton before warm-ups on the second day of competition for the 1978 Commonwealth Games. The team had won gold the day before and now was the All-Around competition. While sitting on the grass, Elfi recalls, “a lady bug jumped onto me.” Mrs. Schlegel caught the ladybug and put it in a jar and took it to the competition (unnoticed by Elfi). When the media interviewed Elfi and her family after winning the All-Around, Mrs. Schlegel said it was “the luck of the ladybug.” Before that day and ever since Elfi has always had a ladybug charm in her gym bag. If you visit her gym in Oakville today you will see Ladybug pictures everywhere.
Steve Mitruk remembers when he dropped his very pregnant wife, Brigitte,
competition while Chris was born. Terry’s new baby brother, Chris, would later become a 2 time World Champion in Double-Mini Trampoline.
Steve Mitruk remembers when floor routines used to be performed on real gym floors. The few available mats were strategically placed on the floor where the competitors would perform their most difficult tricks, and sometimes they missed.
Carol-Angela Orchard remembers when at 16 she was invited to be a “Team Leader” for the International Athletes at the 1976 Coca Cola Meet at Maple Leaf Gardens. All Ontario Champions were invited and CA was the Open “A” All- Around Champion. “My responsibility involved marching the gymnasts into the venue and from event to event,” recalls Carol-Angela. “I was happy to do it, but then…..they gave me an ONTARIO sweat suit to wear. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. This was my very first Gymnastics Ontario uniform. I was so honoured and incredibly proud to wear it. As soon as I arrived home I had my mom take a picture of me in it. I remember the emotion of the moment and I still feel precisely the same way today each time I earn the right to wear a Provincial or National Team Uniform.
off at the hospital on his way to compete at the 1974 National Championships at York University. Later that Saturday afternoon, as he dismounted from the rings, the last event of the competition, someone stuck a cigar in his mouth and a photographer snapped a picture. The announcer informed everyone, including Steve, that he was the father of a new baby boy. The newspaper headline read: “New Father and champ: Mitruk posts two victories” as he had won the
5
In 2000 Susan Harris remembers working with Gymnastics Mississauga
were all lifted into the air. Floor routines were competed
(President Hazel Williamson) to bring top international gymnasts from China,
on the hard wood floor with individual mats placed
France, Australia, Ukraine, Russia, Brazil, and USA to compete with Canadians
strategically for specific difficulties. A very young Lynne
(Michelle Conway, Aubrey Taylor, Crystal Gilmore, Heather Purnell, Melanie
Jones managed to perform her routine missing every
Rocca, Jason Vieria) at the
single mat. At this time a handspring full twist was an
Hershey Centre in Mississauga
extremely difficult vault, but Dave Copeland attempted to
for a combined men’s and
perform the first Tsukahara vault we had seen, or for that
women’s competition on the first
matter, ever heard about in Canada. He landed in a pile
day, and a Showcase of finalists
on the mat on the other side of the horse. In warm-up
combined with a wide variety of
Marilyn Savage stood patiently beside the beam waiting to spot Nancy McDonnell’s
local routines on the second day,
back handspring on the wooden beam. It’s amazing how far the sport has evolved!!
including 2000 Olympic medalists-Karen Cockburn and Mathieu Turgeon. For those who attended, who could forget the outstanding “O Canada” opening show
In 1961 Marilyn Savage recalls Susan McDonnell, as a grade 9 student at
presented by the athletes from Futures?
Winston Churchill SS coming to her and asking if she could use the gymnastics equipment after school. Susan, who trained with an outside club, practiced on
It was 1971 when Evelyn Koop wanted to
the beam, parallel bars and horse with Marilyn watching as the staff supervisor.
qualify some rhythmic gymnasts for the World
Soon Marilyn was hooked. She found out about the Canadian Championships in
Championships. “However”, she relates, “there
Montreal in 1962 and took Susan to Nationals; she placed 2nd. They also traveled
had to be a National Championships with at least 3
to Buffalo to practice with Al Stump (coach of Kathy Gleason). Susan went on
provinces in order to qualify. So I organized the first
to win gold on bars at the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg in 1967. “I also dragged
Nationals and we were able to go to our first World
in Carol Anne Letheren as well as Mary Wilson” recalls Marilyn. Marilyn was
Championships in Cuba in 1971”. She also recalls
the pioneer of women’s gymnastics and continued to share her knowledge and
bringing Lilianna Dimitrova from Bulgaria in 1970
inspiration until she retired in 1989.
to coach. One humorous story was watching Lilianna coach Cathy McDonald in the hotel room as there was no place to train.
Carol Anne Letheren - former CEO & Secretary General, Canadian Olympic Association, IOC member in Canada. (quote from a speech):
6
Mary-Lea and Geoff Palmer: remember a Provincial Championships in
“Sport is a peaceful means for people to strive for excellence and to be the best
the early seventies at Base Borden in Ontario. The uneven bars were converted
that they can be. Conflict, armed or otherwise, is a means for people to destroy
free-standing parallel bars. When the girls were competing, 4 of the heaviest males
themselves, their environment and the potential of the universe. Sporting
perched on each corner so the bars would not leave the ground during a routine.
organizations have an obligation to spread their message and help young people
However, during the bigger girls’ routines, when they wrapped the bars, the men
choose between conflict and healthy competition.”
Masaaki Naosaki remembers the 1987 World Championships - “I was
are some new materials and we were wondering if they
standing under the high bar when Curtis started his routine in the finals at the
could be used as gymnastics mats?” Tom realized that
World Championships in Rotterdam, Holland. His
the pieces of foam had the perfect density for the job and
routine was going very well but as soon as he went into
immediately asked if they could make a mat that was 4
a stoop-in, his direction seemed to be headed for a fall.
x 8x10“ thick with medium density foam. A few days
I screamed “Push” and his body went up into a vertical
later a new mat arrived at York and almost immediately
position for a one second handstand with an eagle grip.
became the most used piece of equipment in the gym.
I prayed “go, go, go, go”. His body could have gone either
Tom soon noticed his gymnasts had less pain in their
way. As a result, he got virtuosity (bonus points) and
elbows and shoulders simply by using the new mat. A
continued his routine to stick his double layout dismount to become the first Canadian gymnast to win a World Championship medal.
few weeks later Marilyn Savage came to York with her gymnasts. A month later, Marilyn had big crash mats under two events!
Oh Boy! I honestly felt God’s presence there. That was 21 years ago.”
Willy Weiler recalls in the 60’s when the only major international Alex Bard remembers leaving USSR on January 3, 1975 with his wife Nellie and
meet held in Canada was at the CNE. It was held in the livestock
son Vitaly (now a surgeon in Mississauga). After short
building and the remnant of the aroma from the fall fair still wafted
coaching stints in Italy and Detroit, he remembers
through the air. USSR was invited one year and Yuri Titov gave his
waiting for his visa to be permitted to come to coach
singlet crest to Willy after the meet – a rare occurrence at the time
in Mississauga in July 1977. During his 30 years of
as they were seldom given away.
coaching at Mississauga, he remembers coaching 4 Olympic athletes, 10 World team athletes, the 1994
George Harlow remembers when he first coached at York Memorial CI,
Commonwealth Games champion and 24 athletes to
training athletes on a hardwood floor with one or two 4’ x 8’ mats placed on the
US scholarships, as well as Slava Corn on beam in the
required corners. The first full floor mat was
Oldie Moldies class in the late 70’s. We all know she
½ inch thick and used for the Pan American
later became the 1st VP of FIG in 2000.
Games in Winnipeg in 1967. York was the second facility in Canada to have such a mat.
In November 1969 at York, the tumbling surface and landing protection under
George also remembers 4 gymnasts who went
the gym equipment was 4 x 8 x10” styrofoam mats. Tom Zivic remembers
on to international competition – Elfi Schlegel,
when, at a usual afternoon training session, two guests arrived in the gym – Dr.
Curtis Hibbert, Lynne Jones and Patti Rope.
Bryce Taylor, Chair of the Physical Education and Athletics Department at York
Coaches such as Mary Lea and Geoff Palmer and
University, and Murray Anderson, the President and Owner of Spieth-Anderson
Dave Homes got a start in coaching competitive
Ltd. They came into the gym carrying three large pieces of material. “Tom - these
gymnastics at York Gym Club. 7
Lenke Szathmary remembers “so many things – important or not. For
personal loss while making our own athletes look their best. Now retired in
example”, she recalls, “We did not have judging uniforms at the beginning.
Brampton, she rarely misses the countless hours but always speaks of missing
Everyone came in street clothes. At the first Eastern
her special adopted gymnasts.
Canadian Championships held in Port Colborne we trooped in and introduced ourselves to the Quebec
Slava Corn remembers in the late 70’s organizing MilkMeet and Coke Meet
Head Judge dressed in impeccable white”. “Ladies”
leading up to the World Cup in 1980 at Maple Leaf Gardens. Every year it was a sell
she said, “if you want to look like judges you should
out of over 16,000 spectators-standing room only!!! “We had
wear white since that is what judges wear.” We started
buses of high school kids coming from Peterborough, London,
wearing white. Yet that did not suit some of us who
Barrie, Kingston and the like. They came on a school night. A
found whites were not so pristine after more than a
key group of volunteers made up the Organizing Committee
dozen hours in a gym. So we elected to wear blue
of Jan Waldauf, Colin Wackett, Ed Brougham, Richard Kihn,
blazers and judges showed up in every shade between
Sue Harris, Lillian Babineau and Slava Corn. The technical
royal and midnight. What about navy and red? It
committee was formed of volunteers who almost begged to be
worked until a group of us went to a restaurant and
asked back to WORK and work it was! These were dedicated individuals with a great
the waitress asked if we were stewardesses from Air Canada. In the end, we chose
deal of expertise and truly committed to gymnastics. I remember Curtis Hibbard
all navy – after all Brevet judges wore navy and it didn’t seem right to separate
was one of our flag bearers and this was a great honour because they were selected
them from the team of other judges.
from current provincial champions. We had media coverage and we actually made a profit!!! The feeling of success and pride that we were involved in a great promotion
Marcelle Arsenault is best known for her craftsmanship in creating body
of our sport was incredible.
suits. She initially started her enterprise from her home in Québec. Encouraged by Marilyn Savage after her daughter,
Mary Nichol remembers being “booed” as a judge at the French Open. “I was
Lise moved to Ontario, she expanded her talents to make
the low judge for a French gymnast. I had given her my highest score all night...
the team body suits for the 1972 Olympics. Soon the best
but it was not HIGH enough... Others had given the gymnast
clubs in Ontario all demanded her work. They knew it
10’s. I gave a 9.85!”
would fit like a glove, be quality wear, and you might even get some homemade oatmeal cookies while you were
Mary Nichol remembers leaving her family and moving
waiting for a fitting. Soon she received requests for tracksuits and handgrips.
in with Lenke for a week during Christmas Holidays to study
She even expanded to outfit many Men’s Teams. She outfitted most National
almost 24/7 for Brevet exams with no interruptions. The
Women’s Teams from 1972 to her retirement in 2001. It was the love from other
rote memory required was deadly and the stress of writing
children, her gymnasts as she called them, that helped her through her own
the Brevet judging exam every 4 years was unbelievable, especially knowing that results were read out verbally in front of everyone.
8
Richard Kihn, 4-time Canadian Champion,
into the arena by Dave Hunter and Bruce Medd walking on their hands across the
remembers that there were often not enough
Coliseum with all the others marching behind them.”
people in the “dance halls” to bring out the equipment for gym practices; spotting was
Maria Folprecht - Canadian 1976 Olympic coach came to Canada in November,
certainly a novelty, indeed he never had a coach
1969 (the same day Marilyn Savage gave birth to Fred!!) from the Czech Republic.
in Canada. In the ‘60’s he trained in two different
She always felt that “Gymnastics forms kids so they will be able to handle life. Life
dance halls - German Club Harmonie and Sokol
is not going to be easy; if you keep going you will make it”.
Toronto. With 3 practices a week Richard was 6th AA and won the bronze medal on the parallel bars at the North American Championships. He also won the 19th Sokol Championships in Chicago.
Alan Nolet remembers competing in 1987 and blowing out his knee. “Like many athletes, I had to undergo surgery, followed by six months of physiotherapy. Doing three hours
Steve Mitruk remembers in 1966 when the men’s
of physio, and then going to the gym to try to train
team from Hamilton Germania Club competed
in order to get back into shape for the Olympic
against the Toronto Harmonie Club in the Germania
trials was the hardest time of my gymnastics
Club dance/training hall. Dave Copeland performed
career. I remember being in the worst competitive
a side vault on the high bar and caught his shorts
shape at the 1988 National Championships and
when he caught the bar. His shorts tore off in his
Olympic Trials at McMaster University. Somehow
grip and he completed his high bar routine in his
I managed to place 5th to be on the team for the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea. It
jock. The judges gave him bonus points.
seems the hardest of times bring about the strongest memories”.
Colin Wackett remembers chairing the 1980 World Cup where Elfi Schlegel
In 1989 Terri Parsons remembers The Ontario Gymnastic Federation saying
won a bronze medal on vault. Over 16,000 spectators over 3 days watched the best
goodbye and farewell and thank you to a very special Lady – Lillian Babineau.
in the world. Hundreds of volunteers led by a committee that included Slava Corn,
On the morning of her last day as a staff member, this lovely lady was picked up
Jan Waldauf, Ed Brougham, Lil Babineua, Richard Kihn and Sue Harris celebrated
in a sleek black limo and driven to the federation building, where the OGF staff
its success and the profit the event made.
was waiting outside for her arrival! The limo arrived at the OGF building and out stepped Lil Babineau in a bright red leather jacket with a bottle of champagne in
Colin Wackett also remembers that in the 1960’s “we held International
her hand and the biggest smile Terri had ever seen. It was a day to remember and
Gymnastics events at the CNE Coliseum. Canada and USA always competed
celebrate – not because Lil was leaving, because that was very sad, but because
during the CNE. The late John Hunter asked me to co-chair a gymnastics display
Terri had had the honour of meeting and working with this very amazing lady
along with Evelyn Koop, featuring both Artistic and Rhythmic Gymnastics.
for over 30 years. The limo later drove her to the Prince Hotel where a room full
However there was no budget for a competition! The parade of gymnasts was led
of friends was waiting to honour her. WE SALUTE YOU, LIL BABINEAU, the
Grande Dame of Gymnastics. 9
Bill Perkins remembers when suspenders on whites for men were mandatory, but end decks on trampolines were optional. Bill also remembers when Slava Corn met with him at a GCG Board meeting break in 1994 and explained that although Bill’s intentions and drive at the Board level were respectable, there was no chance that trampoline would ever become an Olympic event. A few years later in her career, Slava (on the FIG executive board) helped to support the addition of
• The grit and determination of the Mitruks, Perkins and McManus families as they fought successfully for recognition for trampoline and tumbling. • Moving equipment all night long at 1988 Nationals – from McMaster to Copps for live television coverage. • The impact of the three countesses – Lenke Szathmary, Lil Babineau and Terri Parsons on the Ontario Gymnastic community. • The 1980 World Cup at Maple Leaf Gardens and the pride when our volunteer
photo appeared in the International Gymnast
trampoline into the Olympics Games. “Her efforts were GREATLY appreciated and should be highly recognized”, applauds Bill.
Dave Ross remembers marching into the huge stadium at the opening ceremonies at his first Olympics in 2000. “Having both Karen and Matt perform almost perfect routine under pressure after a hard year of training to both win bronze medals was so exhilarating. These were the first Olympic medals in the entire history of the Canadian Gymnastics Federation and we also went down in history as medalists at the first ever Olympics for trampoline.” “Jason’s finals routine in Beijing did top Sydney. When her finished, I said to
Margot Nutzenberger remembers that there was no gymnastics when she and
myself, ‘Oh my gosh, Jason has just won the Olympics; nobody can do a better
her husband Karl arrived in Toronto in 1956. They joined
routine than that’. It turns out that 99% of sport insiders thought his silver medal
the German Club Harmonie and started a gymnastics
was earned with the gold medal performance. This was added to Karen’s winning
program. Since there was no good equipment in Canada
her third consecutive Olympic medal the day before.”
they purchased a complete set from Reuter in Germany and had it shipped to Canada. In 1959 they loaded up a
Gene Sutton remembers...
trailer with this equipment and drove it to the Canadian
• The joint program meetings with Technical Director, Liz Armitage, Tom Zivic
Championships in Windsor. At first no one wanted to use
and Margo Bulmar. • Ed Brougham hosting amazing AGM’s and Christmas parties at the Prince Hotel.
10
it because they had never used “real” equipment before. However once they tried it, everyone loved it and it was used for the Championships.
We should all remember the unsung heroes – • The hundreds of club administrators who didn’t experience the thrill of seeing their little protégés get their first medal because they were too busy working in the back room at competitions • The volunteer registrars who manually registered hundreds of gymnasts per club and sent them to the OGF registrar, Bev Liston, who them manually registered and checked over 200,000 registrations – all before the days of computers • The coaches who founded clubs and coached for years as volunteers because they loved the sport of gymnastics • The paid staff of clubs and OGF who were paid for only the first forty hours of the week, but put in hours and energy “over and above”
Frank Nutzenberger remembers when driving home from coaching in Bolton the night before the 1984 National Championships in Waterloo, that he was involved in a head on collision – both cars were write-offs. Before getting into the ambulance he asked his future wife, Kim, to grab his grip bag from the demolished car. The next morning he was released from the hospital with bumps and bruises. While warning up he recalls he was still picking the tiny pieces of windshield glass from the cuts on this body. He also remembers having one of his best meets and becoming Canadian Senior Champion.
Meet directors remember Spieth-Anderson The growth of the sport would not have been the same without the research and development money, the funding of numerous hospitalities and the supplying of equipment for hundreds of competitions provided by Spieth-Anderson Ltd. Thanks to Murray, Dolly, Jeff and Barb Anderson who supported our sport.
1992 Life Members George Curran (President), Brian McVey, Diane Gallagher, Rhoda Silzer (Past President), Lenke Szathmary, Ed Brougham, Lil Babineau, Slava Corn, Marilyn Savage, John Nooney
11
Early Gymnastics - From speech given by Jan Waldauf at the AGM in 1981 It appears from scarce records that the first gymnastics club was founded around
Europe and practiced here in the gym halls of the Germania Club, Harmonie Club
1850 in Montreal. Probably the first gymnastics club in Ontario was the Germania
and the Sokol Club. Willie Weiler also introduced gymnastics to the Canadian
Club in Hamilton. The first gymnastics competition was held in 1882 at McGill
army and together with Canadian Champion, Richard Kihn, represented Canada
University in Montreal. The development until 1900 was very sporadic. Bursts of
at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
brief activity were followed by long periods of inactivity. Following the First World War gymnastics enjoyed spotty popularity, based in most instances on the ethnic
On the female side, credit for acceptance by the
background. In 1923 the first Canadian Championships were held at the CNE
public and media must go to Bernie Newman and
in Toronto. The events contested were the horizontal bar, parallel bars, pommel
his Windsor Club with Ernestine Russell, its
horse, flying rings and mats. Only men competed. In fact, women were not
most famous member. This initial breakthrough in
included in the National Championships until 31 years later in 1954.
Women’s Gymnastics was later followed with great success by Marilyn Savage and her Winstonettes.
There were no National, Provincial of Regional organizations. Gymnastics clubs
The McDonnell sisters, Susan, Teresa and Nancy and
or individual gymnasts belonged to the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada.
Jennifer Diachun made gymnastics known not only in Canada but internationally as well.
Little was known of International Gymnastics and its development. The only international contact was in one or two areas bordering on the United States.
Gymnastics in Canada finally came of age in October 1969 when it left the
In 1904, Canada was represented at the 3rd Olympic Games held in St. Louis
Amateur Athletic Union and formed it own organization – the Canadian
by Lou Seivert, who placed 12th. It would be 52 years before Canada was again
Gymnastics Federation. This development was paralleled in the provinces. In
represented at international competitions (the 16th Olympic Games held in
Ontario the Ontario Gymnastic Federation was established at Lake Couchiching in
Melbourne Australia in 1956).
1969 under the leadership of John Hunter, Marilyn Savage and Albert Dippong.
The real impetus to gymnastics came only after World War II. The influx of immigrants from Europe in the 1950’s and early 1960’s provided the stimulus for gymnastics in Canada. This era became the years of Willie Weiler, Frank Grmek, Richard Kihn, Karl and Margot
Nutzenberger, Kurt Eggerschwiller and others who gained popularity for the sport they brought from
12
Dave Copeland, Paul Pichler, Hardy Fink, Steve Mitruk at ’66 Nationals in Winnipeg
History of Gymnastics Clubs A few local gymnastics clubs and European ethnic community clubs (Germania;
Clubs present in 1968 were:
Sokol; Harmonie), scattered about the province, in the 1950’s and 60s were the
Scarborough Rotary Winstonettes, Thunderbird Gymnastics Club in London,
origin of the Ontario Gymnastic Federation now known as Gymnastics Ontario.
East York Gym Club with Lil Babineau, U of Guelph, Dunbarton Gym Club,
‘Kitchen table organization’ by volunteers who loved the sport and wanted to
Peterborough YMCA, Harmonie German Club, Sarnia YMCA, Sokol Gymnastics
make it more available to youth started it all. In the early 1950’s, Ernestine
Assoc of Toronto, Oshawa Gymnastics Club, Port Colborne Gym Club, West
Russell of Windsor Kennedy Collegiate won both the Canadian and United States
Scarborough Gym Club, Ottawa Gym Club, Germania Gym Club Hamilton, Galt
Championships for several successive years as part of the Windsor Gymnastics
Gymnastics Club, North York Gym Club, McMaster University, York Gym Club,
Club coached by Bernard Newman, a Phys ed teacher. Note: Bernard had to build
Etobicoke Jaycees, Alliston Gym Club, Bayview Gym Club.
his first balance beam, as none was available for sale in Canada or the U.S. In 1973, Clubs were organized and competed within 6 Regions for many years: In the early 1960’s a young physical
Central, Eastern, Northern, South West, Metro West and Metro East. Each region
education teacher at Winston
had an Executive of volunteers who organized competitions for their region.
Churchill Collegiate, Scarborough became interested in competitive
Provincial Championships had representation from regions, originally equal and
gymnastics, through her student
then according to their registration numbers. OGF was a member of CGF and
Susan McDonnell. This
was a major leader in Canada.
woman, Marilyn Savage, started an after hours school club which
During the 2003-04 season, a more centralized system was developed for women.
went on to become the “Scarborough Winstonettes” in 1964 which has produced
Ontario Qualifier competitions were organized under the Women’s Technical
numerous Canadian Champions and Olympians for Canada. Marilyn was head
Director (Kellie Hinnells) from the head office of Gymnastics Ontario. Base
coach of the Winstonettes until 1976, and National coach from 1966 -1975. She
scores from any qualifier had to be reached for a gymnast to advance to Provincial
was the sole author of the Compulsory Routine Book which demanded attention
Championship competitions.
to detail and polish for 3 levels of “non Olympic” gymnasts across Canada. Until the 90’s, clubs were primarily ‘not for profit’ organizations operating with a Prior to 1968, the sport of gymnastics was represented by a small committee
voluntary board of directors.
within the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) of Ontario. During the early days, coaches were volunteers who gave hundreds of hours each John Hunter called existing clubs together in 1968 to the Lake Couchiching
year to develop athletes. During the 70’s and 80’s the sport became more business
Geneva Park Conference Centre to discuss amalgamation into a Provincial
like with coaches specializing in their skills and becoming NCCP certified. Salaries
Federation of Gymnastics. John Hunter became the OGF Inaugural President.
were paid to coaches and later to business managers, administrators, recreation
13
directors etc. Clubs had to learn how to operate successful businesses in a
Burlington Gymnastics Club
professional manner, complete with legal contracts, paid holidays and benefits.
was the pioneer in this area, owning
Ontario’s Wintario grants and later the Ontario Trillium Foundation grants
its facility in 1980. Burlington’s
provided funds to purchase equipment and hire staff.
blueprints and negotiations with the City were often used as an example for other clubs to follow.
Some individuals have taken the next step of buying their own equipment, leasing facilities and running a ‘for profit’ business - no more parent groups ‘running the show’. Several former gymnasts are running their own clubs: Brad Peters, Bob
The Burlington BG’s was the first full time men’s training centre. Several clubs now own their full time centre.
Carisse, Elfi Schlegel, Nikki Chretien, and Mike and Ildiko Inglis.
Some clubs have folded and others Clubs have also moved out of
are struggling with the high costs
school gymnasia where equipment
of competitive sport in a demanding
was set up, and mats were rolled
society. Others are succeeding well
out daily. In the 1970’s full time
and the number of GO registered
training facilities were leased,
gymnasts climbs each year.
often warehouses in city industrial areas. Xoces-Eagles School of Gymnastics boasts the first Ottawa Gym Club Founded by Dr. Sev Heiberg in 1960
permanent facility in North York in 1975. The Mississauga
Gymnastic Club moved into their warehouse in 1976
and was the first club to have a pit dug for training. In those early days, Board of Directors often signed the leases personally guaranteeing the money. That was a sign of a confident dedicated parent/board member! Over the
In 2007, 195 clubs were registered with GO allowing a total of 90,916 gymnasts to
years, clubs made arrangements
enjoy the sport.
with their cities wherein they bought the centre or entered into Joint Venture Agreements. Mortgages replaced leases!
14
Moving the Mat - How the gym has changed In the 50’s and 60’s gymnastic practices were held in dance halls and school
In the 70’s rented warehouses were leased and converted into permanent training
gymnasiums on tile and hardwood floors. Equipment had to be set up and taken
gyms - some with sunken pits filled with foam from old car seats came into being.
down for each practice - hopefully there were sufficient parents willing to help.
Uneven bars were anchored to the floor and the wooden, oval rails often broke due
Two inch mats were strategically placed for landings of the tumbling passes in
to the girls wrapping the low bar for hecht types elements. Convenors of meets
the corners of the floor. Sometimes the wrong corners were covered requiring
always had two or three extra rails “just in case”.
gymnasts to quickly adjust their tumbling or become creative while moving into the other corner. The pommel horse was also used for vaulting with the
The beam became covered and
pommels removed and the holes covered with tape. Women’s uneven bars were
padded; and the floor had springs
simply the men’s parallel bars with an extension added. The balance beam was
fastened to plywood under the 40
varnished wood requiring gymnasts to wear non-skid slippers. No cables anchored
x 40 mat to enable more advanced
any equipment. Often gymnasts or heavy weights were added to the equipment
tumbling skills. Uniform sized chunk
supports to “hold them down”.
cubes and non-toxic cubes gradually replaced the car seats in the pits. Recreational and school gymnastics relied on “spring boards” for vaulting. Following a
Many men’s and women’s artistic coaches came from abroad: Yugoslavia (Tom
run, the gymnast took a step in the middle
Zivic - 1967, Boris Bajin 1970), USSR (Eugene Galperin - 1974, Leonid Grakowsky
and then the hurdle step onto the end of the
and Alex Bard -1977, Svetlana Degteva - 1990, Elena Davydova and Elvira Saadi
spring board propelling him/her several feet
- 1991) and Japan (Masaaki Naosaki - 1971) enriching our homegrown coaches.
forward into the air. Great fun! Reuter boards
Some coaches came from the competitive ranks: Brian McVey, Carol-Angela
with little spring followed, and then gradually
Orchard, David Arnold, Lori Ierullo and Lorne Bobkin. Some did not: Marilyn
had springs added to them. Competitions
Savage, Mary Lea and Geoff Palmer, Dan Glendon, Benita and Don Rope, Tobie
today see coaches adding and removing
Gorman, Debbie Vidmar. Many were teachers.
springs to the “beat boards” according to the weight and preference of the gymnast.
Rhythmic Gymnastics became established with the arrival of Europeans like, Tamara Bompa in 1970 from Romania
Rings were not only men’s equipment showing strength. Girls as well as boys
and Liliana Dimitrova-Petkov from Bulgaria. Evelyn Koop
swung through the air performing half turns at the end of each arc, and moving
had arrived from Estonia in 1951. Mass Group routines
into and out of “crab and inverted hang positions”. Small two inch mats were
showing graceful body waves and catches and throws in
lined up under the ring pathway. Risk management soon brought an end to this
unison gradually incorporated a variety of hand equipment
style of routines.
and the introduction of competitive individual routines. Flexibility became more and more important. 15
In the 80’s the women adopted more elements from the men’s high bar (giant circles and release moves) necessitating the uneven bars to move further apart.
In 2000 when Karen Cockburn and Mathieu Turgeon came home from
The equipment has continued to improve: the floor, now with a 2” foam rug top
the 2000 Olympics with medals
and larger springs or foam cubes allows gymnasts to do double back layouts;
around their necks, Ontario
the parallel bars and the uneven bars have fiberglass cores in the rails. The high
trampoline was in the headlines
bar now has double cables rather than a single one. Landing mats have been
and registrations soared.
engineered to absorb more and more force, hence provide greater safety.
In 2004 the introduction of the vault table In the 90’s unlike artistic gymnastics, there have been very few changes to
replaced the side horse for women and the
the trampoline equipment. In ground trampolines however reduced risk and
long horse for men.
lessened the need for as many spotters. Dave Ross and Bill Perkins, two of the top trampoline coaches were self
One thing is for sure. Gymnastics will
trained and were former gymnasts
continue to evolve and equipment design will
and/or bouncers themselves. The
allow for greater and more difficult elements.
first synchronized trampoline competition was held in Kingston and became a popular category. Aerobic Gymnastics became a FIG discipline in 1994 and within one year Canada had athletes, a coach and a judge at the first World Championships. Ontario became the leaders in the new discipline and started the first Technical Working Group. The equipment consists of a special hardwood cushioned floor. Power Tumbling became a recognized OGF division in 1986 requiring extra long gymnasia and specialized tracks.
16
The Role Played by Schools and Universities ‘After school’ gymnastics clubs were offered within High Schools Physical
gymnastics were: Bernie Newman, Had Armstrong, Bruce Sonley, Don Rope,
Education classes. Competitions evolved within local school associations, growing
George Harlow, Bernie Skitch, Kevin Crouse, Jim MacPherson, and Mike Cain.
into official OFSAA sporting events (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations). Gymnastics competitions were huge in the 60’s and 70’s across most of the province.
George Harlow and Frank Juhasz hosted the first Ontario High School
Boys Team Gymnastics was the first to be an organized event. In 1958, 12 school
Trampoline Championships
teams from Toronto and Peterborough competed in the first Invitational High
at Vanier in 1978. The
School Gymnastics Championships. In 1959, it became an official OFSAA Team
competition involved only
Gymnastics Championship with teams of 5 from grades 9-12. By 1960, it had
the compulsory routines
grown in popularity, 11 teams, competed in an OFSSA Team Championship,
and included a total of 28
hosted by Peterborough (Kenner), encompassing Ottawa (Glebe), Port Hope
competitors.
(Trinity College), Aurora (St Andrews College), Toronto (Western T. &C.S and Richview), Oshawa (Oshawa Central, and Oshawa Donevan), Kirkland Lake,
The Girls Gymnastics Invitational High School Championships started in 1967 at
Sault St Marie (Sir James Dunn and Sault Ste Marie) and Peterborough. These
Sir John A Macdonald, Scarborough with Robin Nitchuk (McLeod) and Stephana
competitions continued to grow in size
Johnston as convenors. It continued as an invitational championship from 1968 to 1975 with Sue Harris as convenor. By 1972, it moved to York University and had 8
By 1970 there were 3 OFSAA championships: Grade Team Championships for
events running at a time for the 300 gymnasts registered.
Grade 9 and 10, an Overall Team Championship and an Individual Event and AllAround Championship. In 1970, 3,960 boys participated in high school gymnastics
Kaarina Tulisalo hosted the first official OFSAA Girls Championship at the
and the OFSAA. Championships were televised. The sport ceased as an official
University of Waterloo in 1977. The number of competitors grew from 1,500 in
OFSAA sport in 1982. Adam Scott CVI (Peterborough) and Glebe (Ottawa Valley)
1964-65 to 5,500 in 1976-77. It has continued as an OFSAA. Championship for
tied for having won the most championships (4) with Port Colborne having won
over 30 years and is a premier event for female high school athletes. Over 400
3. With the support and direction of Mike Cain and McMaster University, the boys’
girls compete in 6 categories over 2 days of competition. Sport Aerobics has been
high school competitions continued as an All Ontario Invitational Championship
added to the competition schedule. Despite a decrease in overall numbers in the
until 1997. Highland Secondary School coached by Kevin Crouse was a dominant
province, girls’ high school gymnastics flourishes in Associations such as COSSA,
force. Some of the men associated with the growth of the boys’ high school
CWOSSA, CISAA, GBSSA, EOSSAA, NOSSA, SOSSA and SWOSSA.
17
Synonymous with the growth of high school
Ontario universities which played a key role in the development of coaches,
gymnastics are: Lenke Szathmary, Kaarina Tulisalo,
athletes, and judges included McMaster (Mike Cain, Carl von Holstein, Kevin
Marilyn Savage, Robin Nitchuk (McLeod), Carol Anne
Eby, Ian O’Riley, Steve Mitruk, Digby Sale), York University (Tom Zivic, Masaaki
Letheren, Slava Corn, Susan Harris, Kevin Eby, Mike
Naosaki, Boris and Natasha Bajin, Tamara Bompa), University of Toronto (Phil
Cain, Diana Rankin, Pat Leith, Al Schmidt, Gene
Bruce, Tom Bertrand) and Queen’s University (Jamie Archibald), University of
Sutton, Lynne Smiley, Judi Hayes, Mike Zulauf, Chris
Western Ontario, Ottawa and Carlton.
Mackey, Sue Fahey, Claude Dallaire, Giselle Pillon, Karen Oude-Reimerink, Irmi Jahn and Gabriele Drabble, and Cynthia Faccinato. Several Ontario coaches and judges got their start in the Physical Education
1981- Bucharest, Romania
classes and the extra curricular school teams. University Gymnastics was also popular for both women and men. Many Ontario and Canadian Championships were held at the universities each year. University gymnastics benefited from the OGF club growth. When club gymnasts graduated from the High School system they could continue in the American system with gymnastic scholarships, or in the Canadian University system. The levels of success in University gymnastics paralleled that of the OGF Coaches and
1971-Turino, Italy
judges followed the gymnasts, and the university academics brought analysis, investigation, coaching and training studies to gymnastics. Both academia and sport became symbiotic. National University Champions like Alan Nolet and four-time National Champion Steve Mitruk became inductees into the University Athletics Hall of Fame (McMaster). Other Hall of Fame inductees include Jennifer Diachun Palmer (University of Toronto), Bob Carisse, Marc Epprecht, Dan Gaudet, Lise Arsenault Goertz , Tom Kinsman, Susan Buchanan Pierce, Nancy McDonnell Gabriel, Steve MacLean, Frank Nutzenberger, Sharon Tsukamoto Rutledge, David Steeper (York University). Coaches were also honoured as builders and included Dr. Bryce Taylor, Tom Zivic and Natasha Bajin from York University, and Dr. Mike Cain from McMaster. University athletes also went on to compete for Canada at the
F.I.S.U. Games (World University Games). 18
1985- Kobe, Japan
History of Rhythmic Gymnastics Rhythmic Gymnastics grew out of the Swedish
and became a technical committee of OGF. In 2000 it
system of free exercise in the early 1800’s. Music
was known as RGC (Rhythmic Gymnastics Canada)
and hand held apparatus (hoop and clubs) were
and it officially joined Gymnastics Canada in 2005.
added in 1860. The first Canadian Championships were in 1970 In 1906 the first Finnish Canadian Athletic Club
in Toronto. In 1971, Canada participated in its first
“Yritys” of Toronto introduced Rhythmics to
World Championships, held in Cuba.
Canada and it spread to ethnic clubs such as Sokol (Czech), Simikat (Finnish), Kalev (Estonian),
Key builders from Ontario to the organization of
and Sampo (Finnish in Sudbury). In the 1930’s
the sport are Evelyn Koop, Kaarina Dillabough as
in Estonia, the natural body movement of run,
presidents and coaches, Tamara Bompa as Canadian
walk, swing and body wave while using the ball was introduced. It was in
Head Judge. Marta Selmezi of St Catharines developed the sport within the
Russia in the 1940’s that this form of movement became a sport combining
Niagara peninsula. Many of us can remember the opening ceremonies at the
art and sport movements. In 1954 rope, hoop, ball, ribbon and clubs became
1976 Montreal Olympics which were partly choreographed by Evelyn Koop and
standard apparatus and rules were developed. Evelyn Koop of Kalev a student
which resulted in Rhythmic gymnastics becoming more popular. In 1984 Liliana
of the Estienne movement style, made her programs available to girls of all
Dimitrova coached Lori Fung to Olympic gold at the Los Angeles Olympics.
nationalities thus beginning RG Gymnastics in Ontario. Ontario Rhythmic gymnasts from our history to be remembered are: In 1969 the sport became organized into a voluntary federation first called the
Mary Fuzesi (‘88 Olympics, Worlds ‘89, Commonwealth and Pan Am Games of ‘90
Ontario and then the Canadian Modern Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation and
and ‘91); Shirley Lehtinen (’73,’75,’77 Worlds), Adrianne Dunett (’84 Olympics),
grew province by province until 1981 when it was called the Canadian Rhythmic
and Lori White, Jennifer Hopkins, Jennifer Moscato and Madonna Gimotea (’92)
Sportif Gymnastics Federation. Name changes continued from RSG to RG in
and Myeka Yamashita, Erika-Leigh Stirton, Emilie Livingston, and Alexandra
1998. In 1983 Rhythmic Gymnastics merged with Artistic Gymnastics in Ontario
Orlando (’08 Olympics) are names who have brought recognition to Ontario.
19
Under the Pencil - How judging has changed After the 1968 Canadian Championships in Montreal and before the Mexico
“In 1967 at a competition at Sir Winston Churchill SS, I remember Marilyn Savage
Olympics, an intercontinental judge’s course was run in Quebec City by FIG
asking me to come from the stands and judge beam after having taken only one
President Madame Villange of France and Madame Nagy of Hungary. Carol Anne
weekend judge’s course” recalls Sue Harris (Olympic Judge 2000). Lenke Szathmary
Letheren (teaching Phys Ed at U of T), Mary Hennings Gould (teaching Phys Ed
(retired Brevet and several times honoured judge) recalls Marilyn Savage contacting
with coach Marilyn Savage at Sir Winston Churchill), Robin Nitchuk McLeod,
her because she had judging and competitive experience from Hungary.
(Phys Ed. Teacher), Lenke Szathmary (Phys Ed teacher in St. Catharines and previous Hungarian National Gymnastics Team member) and Sue Harris (new
Mary Nichol (retired Brevet Judge) remembers when Lenke took her to a
judge and coach in Mississauga) attended this early course.
competition needing judges with the instructions: “start out of 10 and take off 0.2 every time you see a bent knee, elbow, a wobble, legs apart and 0.5 for a fall. I will
The first Men’s Artistic Judging Course held outside of Switzerland was held in
do the rest for composition”
Feb 1969 at Penn State University. Attending for Ontario were Hardy Fink, Peter Meszaros and Paul Pichler of the Hamilton Germania Club.
“Coaches were often frustrated with the judges who either did not know the compulsory routines or did not evaluate the optional routine accurately” recalls
At that time judging was a simple
Geoff Palmer. Frustrated coaches would challenge judges, sometimes sending
system of 2 difficulty levels
them home in tears.
(mediums and superiors) and scores out of a maximum of 10.0. It has
Ontario started conducting formal clinics and requiring exams for judges. Lenke
evolved over 40 years into seven
and Sue wrote the first exams for evaluating beginner judges in 1968. Mary Nichol
levels of difficulty (A to G), bonus,
wrote and administered the first official beginner judging courses, modeling them
the mandatory scripted recording of
after the weekend clinics began in late 60’s by Carol Anne Letheren.
routines, open scoring, and the computer analysis of judge’s scores. By the 80’s mandatory gym observation, yearly exams and practical evaluations In the late 60’s and 70’s, each woman’s routine needed a minimum of six elements
using video were introduced and judging improved.
(4 mediums and 2 superiors). Requirements for composition were vague and the category of General Impression gave judges a 1.0 point range of flexibility.
Judges began to receive a small honourarium for their services. However, being
Objectivity was gradually increased and by 2000, the double panels of A and B
selected to judge at provincial and /or national championships was still considered
judges lessened the potential for personal bias. Judges were necessary for the
an honour and no financial compensation was given. Judges were pleased if
growth of the sport, and came from a variety of sources: Physical Education High
expenses were paid!
School teachers, parents of gymnasts, and gradually, retired gymnasts. Many judges were learning the sport as it rapidly grew.
20
In the 90’s a lower start value
The last year for compulsory routines internationally was 1996. In Canada
of 9.6 for a basic routine was
compulsories continue in the men’s program.
introduced. A “bonus points” system was introduced.
Trampoline, Tumbling and Double Mini-Tramp have had few rules changes as
Rewards were granted for
they have always had 2 panels – one to evaluate difficulty and the other to judge
difficult elements and difficult
execution. Their scores were always open ended and not the well understood “10”.
combinations up to 0.4. This required more emphasis
The newest discipline, Aerobic
on difficulty to enable a gymnast’s routine to be scored out of 10.00. Each
Gymnastics, is judged according
quadrennial the Start Value was lowered and bonus points were increased.
to artistic, execution and has an
Routines became longer in an attempt to obtain a higher Start Value.
open difficulty. Holly Abraham (the first Brevet Judge in Ontario)
The basic handspring vault for women and men that was scored out of 10.0 in
has produced several judging and
1972 was scored out of 7.8 in 2001. In 2001 a female would need to perform a
coaching manuals.
handspring double front salto to score out of 10.0. A sign of the improved standard of judging within our sport, is the number of Then in 2005 the lid came off the perfect 10.0 for a score. Unlimited A scores (for
former gymnasts and professional coaches that have now become judges: Liz
element content) and B scores (for execution) were totaled causing the traditional
Armitage, Lise Arsenault Goertz, Dave Arnold, Richard Kihn, David Hunter, Larry
10.0 score to disappear. We now see 15.0 plus scores for top international routines.
Bialogrecki, Masaaki Naosaki, Danny Gaudet, Steve Mitruk, Terry Mitruk, Dave
The more difficult the routine, the higher the score - if it is clean.
Ross, John Hamilton, Ian Duffy, Heather McManus, Sean McManus, Bill Perkins and Jean Paul Aucoin.
Those early leaders in women’s judging included 40 year veteran Fay Weiler (68, 72, 76 Olympic judge and Canadian head judge) and Carol Anne Letheren (76,
Rhythmic scoring and judging has changed drastically since the 80’s. The final
80, 84 Olympic judge and member of FIG-Women’s Technical Committee) who
score has always been out of 10 but what this score includes has changed several
went on to head the COA until her untimely passing in 2001. Susan Harris was a
times. The number of required elements increased and a higher emphasis was
founder of the Mississauga Gym Club, Brevet Olympic Judge, President of OGF,
placed on technical elements. Much of the artistry was lost and routines became
and current initiator/writer of this history book.
boring. Recently there has been an effort to balance the body elements with the apparatus technique and to increase the number of required elements.
Hardy Fink, an Ontario gymnast, has been the leading force in Men’s Gymnastics in Canada for almost 40 years. Later he went on the FIG Men’s Technical Committee.
The size of a group has been reduced from 6 to 5 gymnasts. The value of
For years Hardy has written articles on how to improve men’s gymnastics.
Costuming has not changed but the complexity and cost has. The cost for a competitive body suit today can range from $500 to $1000. 21
In 1971 Tamara Bompa came to Canada from Romania with her husband and daughter. Since then she has been involved with Canada’s National program and has worked toward reducing bias in rhythmic judging. “Some judges are constantly biased; that is the bad aspect of it. A highly knowledgeable judge would not be biased” she stated in 1988. In 2008, Rhythmic judges have their scores constantly analyzed. Tamara is repeatedly selected to judge on the Rhythmic floor and has judged 6 Olympic Games.
Evelyn Koop and Margo Bulmar Evelyn Koop of the Kalev Estienne Club introduced Rhythmic Gymnastics to Canada in the 60’s; administered and judged the sport until 2000 when she also received FIG’s highest recognition for her years of judging. All aspects of Gymnastics are constantly evolving into higher levels of performance and professionalism!
22
Recollections
1968
During 1968 there were 9 clubs and 240 members registered with the Ontario
Following a recommendation by Albert Dippong, Bryce
Gymnastic Federation.
Taylor and John Hunter arranged to have Tom Zivic come from Yugoslavia, to coach at the York Seminar
1968 was the first year of the newly formed Ontario
in the summer of 1967. This proved to be a very
Gymnastic Federation and John Hunter was the first
successful venture, and Tom returned to work full-time
President, a position he held until 1970. Gymnastics
at York University in 1968.
was becoming a very popular sport, and this prompted Karen Pipes and Susan Harris to form the Mississauga
Tom’s return to York signaled the beginning of a highly
Gymnastics Club in September 1968.
successful men’s gymnastics program at the university, and lead to the development and success of many athletes at the club, university,
The highlight of the 1968 year was the participation of the Canadian Team
provincial and national levels.
at the Olympic Games in Mexico City, Mexico. Ontario athletes were well represented in the quest for a position on the team. The final team trials
Possibly the most successful gymnast coached by Tom was Curtis Hibbert,
took place in the Coliseum at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.
although many others owe their success to the coaches and programs which he
Compulsories were held in the morning, optionals in the afternoon and finals in
developed. Steve McLean, also a gymnast at York, went on to perform gymnastics
the evening. The first ever 5-man team and 6-women team to compete at Olympic
in outer space, as one of Canada’s famous astronauts. The huge success of the
Games for Canada included Barry Brooker, Steve Mitruk, Marilyn Minaker,
York Seminars lead to Boris Bajin being brought to coach at York as well, and his
Jennifer Diachun and Teresa McDonnell with coaches Willy Weiler and Marilyn
work with Women’s gymnastics lead to tremendous success at all levels.
Savage and judges Fay Weiler and Horst Galle. Trampoline was still a fledgling sport in 1968.
Rick Kinsmen was the National Trampoline Champion from 1963 to 1968. During this time, the Trampoline Nationals were held every year at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto as an Invitational competition. World Championships were held in Louisiana, USA, where Rick Kinsmen placed 7th and Wayne King placed 8th.
23
1969 During 1969, 133 members and 11 clubs had registered with the new Association.
1969 was also a busy year for Ontario athletes.
The inaugural meeting of the Ontario Gymnastic Federation was held on
The Cup of the Americas competition in Mexico
Sunday, November 2, 1969 at Lake Couchiching. There were 24 registered club
City included Steve Mitruk, Jennifer Diachun,
representatives at this meeting, along with O.G.A. executive committee members,
and Teresa McDonnell.
national officers, as well as many interested participants in the sport. OGF’s first Men’s Technical Chair was Jan The preparation work for the conference in Orillia,
Waldauf and Carol Anne Letheren was the first
including the technical documents, was completed by Jan
Women’s Technical Chair. Hardy Fink earned his
Waldauf, John Hunter, Horst Galle and Albert Dippong,
FIG Brevet – a certification that he continues to
in the basement of Albert’s home in Toronto. To look at
hold at the highest level for over 40 years.
the list of names present at the meeting is to look back at a history rich in volunteer/coach/athlete participation – in fact, some of those present and/or family members are still involved today in some
Nationals with Jennifer Diachun winning the
way within the sport of gymnastics in Ontario.
Senior All-Around title.
The design of the OGF emblem was also approved by
In the winter of 1969, the Provincial Boys Championships, held at East York, had
the delegates at this meeting.
only 20 - 30 boys for all the categories.
On December 14, 1969 the Men’s Technical Committee
With the help of Marilyn Savage and Mr. McAlister
was enlarged to includeTrampoline and the first
the new Winstonette Boys Gym Club was formed
Chair of this new sport was Frank Juhasz. Between
with coaches Tom Kinsmen and Fred Hummel,
1969 and 1972, Frank introduced the fundamentals
thus broadening the base of clubs.
of Trampoline and rules and regulations for Canadian trampolining. Wayne King became the Canadian Senior trampoline champion.
24
Ontario athletes were well represented at
1970 Membership in the newly formed Ontario Gymnastic Federation grew to 746 members, including 25 clubs 348 athletes, 30 coaches and 15 judges.
Jan Waldauf became the President of OGF, a position he held until January 1975.
Sport Canada introduced a system of renewable grants-in-aid to assist athletes who, because of long training and competitive schedules, have little
World Team Front: Willie Weiler, Andre Bedard, Jacques Choinard, Eugene Oryschyn, Norm Horn Back: Steve Mitruk, Fred Rodney, Bill Mackie, Yvonne Boisclaire, Gordie Gannon, Sid Jensen
opportunity to raise funds for educational purposes. Steve Mitruk was the first Ontario athlete, and one of only 55 athletes in Canada, to receive the $2,000 a year renewable scholarship. Hardy Fink received the award in 1972.
Marilyn Savage became the first OGF recipient of the Ontario Special Achievement in Sports Award, in honour of her commitment to gymnastics.
World Team: Nancy McDonnell, Lise Arsenault, Patti Rope, Teresa McDonnell, Jennifer Diachun, Susan Buchanan, Sandra Hartley
25
1971 1971 saw a slight decline in gymnastics membership at 641 athletes and 23 clubs.
John Nooney received the Ontario Sports Achievement Award from Premier Bill Davis. He had been active in gymnastics since 1958. Some of his achievements included Men’s Technical Chair, Judging Chair, founder of the Ontario School Coaches Association, founder of four clubs in Ontario, an International judge and a member of the Board of Directors of Sport Ontario. He was the Ontario Federation’s official historian from 1971, and a reporter for the international magazine “The Gymnast”. The Richmond Hill Trampoline Club was founded in 1971 by Frank Juhasz and the following year was the first trampoline club to register with the Canadian Gymnastics Federation.
FISU Games team Tim Sedgewick, Sandra Hartley, Steve Mitruk, Janet Terry, Skip Letheren, Tom Kinsman, Linda Bird, Louise Lamonte, Hardy Fink, Liz Swinton Armitage,
Jennifer Diachun was again the Senior National
Gary Balcombe, Carol Anne Letheren
Women’s Champion and Masaaki Naosaki, training at York University, was the Men’s Champion. Wayne King continued his winning ways by adding another Senior Men’s Trampoline title. Ontario athletes competed in the Pan American Games in Cali, Columbia where the Men’s team won bronze. Although not officially a member of OGF, Rhythmic Gymnastics was continuing to grow in Ontario, due largely to the efforts of Evelyn Koop and the Kalev Estienne Rhythmic Gymnastics Club, which she organized commencing in 1951. In 1971 she earned her level 2 brevet rating. Rhythmics held their first Canadian Championships in Toronto. Also in 1971 Kalev formed the first Canadian National team to represent the country at the World Championships in Cuba, placing 8th of 14 countries. 26
Scarborough Winstonettes
1972 As the sport continued to grow, the OGF moved into a new facility at 559 Jarvis Street in Toronto. The Federation now boasted 1022 registered athletes from 49 clubs. The newsletter, “The Ontario Gymnast” was created to promote and highlight gymnastics in Ontario. The Provincial government began to allocate funds from sport lotteries to clubs. These Wintario Grants would greatly help clubs in acquiring equipment as they began to grow. The OGF formed a relationship with the Canadian National Exhibition and through the years many demonstrations and events for all disciplines of OGF
Sharon Tsukamoto, Janet Terry, Susan Buchanan,
occurred there. Ontario hosted an
Jennifer Diachun, Marilyn Savage (coach) Teresa McDonnell,
International Women’s competition
Lise Arsenault, Nancy McDonnell,
between Canada and Germany.
(judge- Fay Weiler- absent)
Ontario’s Jennifer Diachun placed 2nd All-Around. Rounding out the team were Nancy and Teresa McDonnell.
The men’s team included Steve Mitruk and Bruce Medd. And coach Barry Brooker.
Winstonette athletes Jennifer Diachun,
Rusty Pierce and Peter Rogers, from Ontario, competed at the World Trampoline
Teresa and Nancy McDonnell and Susan
Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.
Buchanan were part of the Women’s National Team tour of Europe.
Rhythmic gymnastics was continuing to grow in Ontario, due in great part to the efforts of Evelyn Koop and her Kalev Estienne Rhythmic Gymnastics Club.
Ontario athletes were well represented on the Canadian team to the Olympic Games in Munich, Germany. The Women’s Team had their best ever placement at
John Hunter was honoured for his commitment and dedication
11th in team competition
to gymnastics in Ontario by receiving the Ontario Sports Achievement Award. As the first president of OGF, Mr. Hunter was instrumental in the development of gymnastics in Ontario.
27
1973 By 1973 the OGF had grown to 55 clubs and 1717 registered members. The OGF
coached by Evelyn Koop and Tamara Bompa included Denise Fujiwara, Shirley
obtained the financial backing it had long needed when the Ontario Milk Marketing
Lehtinen, Ritta Laur, Karmen Kruusmagi, Vlasta Rehor, Mall Vesik, Anita Cinits
Board became its new sponsor. This association would grow to provide gymnastics
and Marilyn Raham.
with funds for the many projects that had been outlined in a five year plan. Following a successful tour of China in 1971, Canada hosted a tour across Competitions had grown in number and size and the concept of Regions became
Canada for the Chinese team. The tour included two stops in Ontario - Toronto
a reality. This concept was pioneered by Jan Waldauf and George Harlow and was
(competition) and Ottawa (demonstration) of Chinese gymnastics. The
felt necessary due to the growth of the sport.
performance at Maple Leaf Gardens drew the largest crowd ever to watch a gymnastics event in Canada. An audience of 10,261 watched in admiration and
• Central
- 12 clubs
awe as the athletes went through their routines. The event was sponsored by the
• Eastern
- 10 clubs
Milk Marketing Board and OGF.
• Metro East
- 7 clubs
• Metro West
- 11 clubs
“The importance of running a fast, sleek professional show at the Gardens cannot
• Northwest
- 5 clubs.
be emphasized enough” said Chair Ole Chamberlain. “The success of this venture
• Southwestern - 15 clubs
will enhance the new business-like, professional image that we are trying to create; we are very satisfied with the sell- out for this unique event.”
Marilyn Savage started a coaching school specializing in Women’s Gymnastics at Seneca College.
Ontario athletes Lise Arsenault, Jennifer Diachun, Teresa McDonnell, Sharon Tsukamoto, Steve Mitruk and Bruce Medd took part in the FISU Games in Moscow.
Another sign that the sport was growing rapidly in the province was the adoption of an OGF Award for recognition of outstanding contribution to gymnastics in Ontario.
The Province of Ontario awarded John Wilken the Special Achievement in Sport Award.
Nancy McDonnell won a gold medal in vault at the pre-World Championships in Bulgaria, making her the first Canadian to win a gymnastics gold medal in Europe. She came home to also win the senior title at Nationals. Rhythmic gymnasts from Kalev represented Canada at the World Championships in Holland. The athletes,
28
Argo, Tyro, Novice competition in a local high school
1974 Membership continued to grow in Ontario, to 2607 members and 66 clubs. As the
Kalev Estienne Modern Gymnasts represent Canada at Finland’s 50th Anniversary
role of the OGF continued to expand, additional staff was needed. Gary Goodson
of Women’s Sports in Lahtin, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden. Shirley Lehtinen
was hired as the first OGF Technical Director, a position which he held until 1979.
won the Rhythmic National Championship.
Horst Galle was awarded the Ontario Special
Trampoline was continuing to grow. On November 30th the Kingston Gym Club
Achievement in Sport Award. He was a founding
hosted the first Invitational Trampoline competition. With 76 competitors, it was
member of OGF and was actively involved in the
the largest ever held in Canada, and the first meet with Synchronized Trampoline
development of the judging program.
to be held in Ontario. Harry Wells from Port Colborne represented Canada at the World Championships in South Africa.
The OGF and the Milk Marketing Board sponsored the U.S.S.R./Canada Gymnastic Meet at Maple Leaf Gardens,
Canadette Sport Camp opened in the summer of 1974 in Muskoka – the first
part of the USSR-Canada Nationwide Tour. Ontario was represented by Steve
camp to offer gymnastics training in a northern setting. Since gymnastics was
Mitruk, Bruce Medd, Nancy McDonnell, Teresa McDonnell, and Jennifer Diachun.
becoming very popular and there was a lack of summer training facilities, Geoff
The Toronto event included a demonstration by trampolinists, Dave Ross and
and Mary-Lea began the camp as a volunteer family project, accommodating girls
Steve Juhasz from Ontario.
from beginner to highly competitive.
This was followed in November by Milk Meet ‘74, an International Meet of
In 1974 the Ottawa Gym Club hosted the first “Cartwheels for Canada” event
gymnastic champions from Canada, U.S.A., Russia, Japan, Great Britain, West
(youngsters could help earn money for their club by doing tricks and being
Germany, France, and Yugoslavia. The largest attendance ever to witness an
sponsored) - the first Gym-a-thon.
amateur sport at Maple Leaf Gardens made it into the Guinness World Records book – a record that held until the ’76 Olympics in Montreal. This event led to
The Ontario Government announced the Ontario Coaching Development
more newspaper coverage in one
Program to provide amateur coaches with formal training in the science and art of
week than had been generated in
coaching, and to improve leadership skills and upgrade
the past year for gymnastics.
coaching knowledge. Accreditation would be based on a coach’s participation in Level 1, 11, 111 theory,
Girls’ gymnastics in Ontario
technical and practical coaching. This has grown into
was largely dominated by the
the current N.C.C.P. National Program.
Scarborough Winstonettes. Jennifer Diachun regained the
Wilhelm Weiler was awarded the Order of Canada.
Canadian Seniors Women’s title.
29
1975 Membership in 1975 had grown to 3420 members and 77 clubs. Ed Brougham
joined together to become one
took over the reins as president in January.
strong, cohesive and viable operation. The objective of
Mike Scanlan joined OGF, replacing Jim Coutts as Administrative Director. Mike
the club was to design training
served in that position until 1985.
programs necessary to develop ‘elite’ female gymnasts, and
Jan Waldauf was recognized for his contributions
hopefully start reversing the
to gymnastics by receiving the Ontario Special
trend of Canada’s most promising
Achievement Award.
athletes going to the U.S.A.
The girls’ gymnastics team from Austria arrived for
Members of the Kalev Club took part at the World
a visit with the Mississauga Gymnastic Club. The
Championships in Spain.
9 Austrian girls were billeted with girls from the
the team coach.
Liliana Dimitrova was
Mississauga club for the week-long event, which included club and family get-togethers, a tour of downtown Toronto and the
Slava Corn continued as Women’s Technical Chair,
Science Centre as well as a trip to Niagara Falls, and the World Trampoline and
Mary Lea Palmer replaced Pat Leith as Coaching Chair,
Tumbling Championships being held at the C.N.E. An International competition
Lenke Szathmary replaced Robin Nitchuk as Judging
was held at the C.N.E. between the Austrian and Ontario teams.
Chair and Mary Nichol became chair of the newly formed Education and Recreation Committee.
After a very successful gymnastics career which included 5 National titles, 2 Olympic Games, 2 Worlds, Jennifer Diachun retired from gymnastics to pursue
George Harlow and Margot Nutzenberger co-
her university education. Note: in 2008 she is a physiotherapist in Oakville.
authored the Achievement Awards Program, aimed at improving the general standard of gymnastics in schools
In November, the Kingston Gym Club played host to their 2nd Invitational
and recreational clubs.
Trampoline Meet. This competition highlighted the continued growth of
The idea for this organized program for instructors
Trampoline in Ontario. There were more than 80 competitors, from Quebec, New
was brought back from Great Britain by former 4-time
York, New Jersey and Ohio, in addition to those from Ontario. Harry Wells and
national champion, Richard Kihn.
Dave Levionnois won the National Synchronized Trampoline title. Coaching certification was announced by the Ontario Government.
The Xoces-Eagles School of Gymnastics was officially formed in 1975. Three clubs, the Xoces, The Toronto York Eagles and the Etobicoke Braebettes, 30
1976 In this Olympic year the goal was to have gymnastics in every community and to
Slava Corn was the worthy recipient of the Syl Apps
establish excellence in Ontario Gymnastics. Club totals grew to 86 and membership
Ontario Government award.
expanded to over 4822. Following the lead of the Xoces-Eagles opening in 1975, Mississauga Gymnastic Club, under the leadership of Susan Harris and Karen Pipes,
As hosts of the Olympic Games, it was hoped that
with the help of a Wintario Grant, opened the first training facility for both men
Canada would qualify both a Men’s and Women’s team.
and women. With gymnastics growth came the introduction of courses to expand
The Canadian men qualified only three individuals.
knowledge and coaching seminars by colleges and universities.
Unfortunately Masaaki Naosaki did not receive his Canadian citizenship in time for the Olympics. Ontario Gymnasts formed two thirds of the
At the National Championships in Victoria, BC, the Ontario
women’s team. The final Olympic Women’s team included Teresa McDonnell,
women’s team placed first, lead by Nancy McDonnell and
Nancy McDonnell, Lise Arsenault, Patti Rope, Lynne Jones and coach, Marie
Patti Rope who tied for gold.
Folprecht of Ontario. This was Teresa McDonnell’s third Olympic Games.
CGF had 199 trampolinists registered, 104 of which were from Ontario. Trampoline participation continued
Sandra Henderson was selected to light the
to grow. The third annual Kingston Invitational was the
Olympic torch.
highlight of the year. Alison Pester was National senior women’s champion.
Carol-Anne Letheren, CGF Women’s Technical Chair was elected to the F.I.G. Women’s Technical Committee. Carol-Anne, brevet judge and professor at York The young female
University organized an International Brevet Judges course, attended by a number
athletes were now being
of Ontario judges. In the summer a training gym with foam pits designed by Tom
identified by a National
Zivic, opened at Canadian Adventure Camp on Lake Temagami. The use of these
Testing Program.
foam pits at the summer camp, contributed to the Canadian National Men’s team
Of the 15 that passed
advancing from 16th place to 10th place in world standings.
Level three (top level) 12 of the athletes were
Milk Meet 76 held at Maple Leaf
from Ontario. One of the
Gardens, filled to capacity was a
new crop, Lynne Jones
resounding success owing to the hard
travelled to Romania for a sixteen country invitational meet including the powerful
work of 200 volunteers from Ontario
Romanians and Russians, and walked away with two silver medals.
clubs. Twelve year old Elfi Schlegel made her first major international debut in Canada finishing fourth, winning a bronze medal on vault and capturing the hearts of Canadians. 31
1977 As a result of the exposure of Women’s gymnastics at the 1976 Olympics (Nadia
The girl’s championships were held at Scarborough College, the boys at Humber
Comaneci), Women’s gymnastics became the glamour sport and in Ontario it
College and the Elite Men’s and Women’s at Etobicoke Olympium. The Elite
boomed. Membership rose to 93 clubs and 8013 members. 5 of 6 of our Olympic
Championships were the basis for qualification to Nationals. Xoces-Eagles
team retired, but with the new National programs introduced by Boris Bajin,
dominated the Elite Championships winning gold in all the women’s divisions:
combined with National training camps such as the one in Cambridge, the future
Argo, Tyro, Novice, Junior and Senior.
of gymnastics in Ontario was bright. With the opening of privately dedicated facilities, the future of Ontario gymnastics was strong and positive.
At Nationals the Ontario women continued to be a power in the sport capturing team titles in Senior and Junior. The men captured the Senior title and placed
The overwhelming success and growth of gymnastics
second in the Junior team title.
in Ontario was enhanced by the capable leadership of President, Ed Brougham.
The major highlight in 1977 was the Coca Cola Meet (Ontario Cup) held at Maple Leaf Gardens. Messages from Pierre Elliot Trudeau and Bill Davis welcomed
Gymnastics appeared in Ontario Winter Games for the first time. This meet in North Bay was coordinated by Slava Corn. Gymnastics was by
the athletes. The Meet was a resounding success with Canadian Karen Kelsall winning the women’s gold medal.
far the most popular sport at the Games. In March at the Women’s Gymnastics National Selection meet, 19 of the top 22 athletes were from Ontario. In men’s
Ontario Artistic Gymnastics and Trampoline continued to grow and flourish.
gymnastics 5 of the top 20 were from Ontario. As a result of these selection meets
Artistic was led by Cambridge Kips and Xoces-Eagles on the women’s side, York
Ontario athletes, coaches and judges travelled all over the world.
University on the men’s and Trampoline was led by the Kingston Gymnastics Club. The goal of having gymnastics clubs all over the province had obviously
Large growth in Trampoline took place as 65 athletes competed in the Provincial
been met. Owing to the tremendous growth, Provincial Championships for Men,
Championships in Kingston, up from 17 in 1970. 17 trampolinists travelled to
Women, Elite, and Provincial stream
Nationals to represent Ontario. For the first time since Trampoline came into the
had to be separated and hosted at a
Canadian Gymnastics Federation in 1971, Ontario dominated team, individual and
variety of sites.
syncro results. Tom Green was the National Champion. Both men’s and women’s gymnastics were divided into 7 regions for competition,
Burlington Aerialettes Gymnastics Club led the way in
the top gymnasts coming together for Provincial Championships: Women’s (argo,
membership with 1034 members.
tyro), men’s (Junior ll, Boy’s lll, Boy’s ll, Boy’s l). Due to the large number of gymnasts the Provincial Championships had to be dispersed to three separate sites.
32
1978 Ontario membership had grown to 12,250 members and 103 clubs.
Trampoline used this meet as the qualifying competition for the premier World Trampoline Championships in Melbourne, Australia. Canada was ably
National level gymnastics was highlighted by its inclusion for the first time in
represented by a team including Tom Green, Rick Cleland and Alison Pester of
the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton and the World Championships in
the Kingston Gym Club coached by Dave Ross. Ontario Gymnastics formed a
Strasbourg, France. Ontario provided strong representation at both meets in
trampoline display team of the top Ontario trampolinists to travel the province
the Women’s program. The Provincial Senior Women’s Champion was Sherry
giving demonstrations to promote the sport. These included the 1978 National
Hawco of Cambridge Kips, coached by Don and Benita Rope. At the National
Champion, Tom Green of Ontario.
Championships in Ottawa, Elfi Schlegel, coached by Mary-Lea Palmer, Geoff Palmer and Donny Muir became Senior National champion.
This was truly a jam-packed year for Ontario gymnastics. For the first time Canada attended a major International competition in China and Ontario was well represented. Ontario hosted another Ontario Cup and a major dual meet with Bulgaria (champion Elfi Schlegel). Ontario ran the first Annual Coaching Congress directed by Slava Corn. The Ontario Winter Games occurred this year. Mississauga Gym club gave us the first large Gymfest in the province.
York University Gymnastics Club lead by Tom Zivic and Masaaki Naosaki was becoming a force in men’s gymnastics. In The Commonwealth Games gold medal winning team, with Elfi winning the
addition the Burlington
All-Around Gold and Sherry earning the silver (tie), was the pride of Ontario.
Boys Gymnastics Club
Sherry Hawco of Cambridge Kips (coaches Benita and Don Rope) and four Xoces
was founded by Steve
Eagles gymnasts qualified for World Championships in Strasbourg - Elfi Schlegel,
Mitruk this year. In
Ellen Stewart, Diana Carnegie, Karen Goold (coaches Mary Lea and Geoff Palmer,
the junior ranks Ontario was producing quality gymnasts such as Danny Gaudet
Don Muir and Dennis Fuhrman). The team went on to finish eighth - Canada’s
(YUGC), Frank Nutzenberger (NY Turners) and Dave Arnold (YUGC). At Junior
highest team finish to date. Trampoline joined Artistic Gymnastics at the National
Nationals Danny Gaudet was first and Frank Nutzenberger second, the opposite of
Championships in Ottawa.
their finish at Provincials.
33
1979 The OGF office moved to Vanderhof Drive while continuing its meteoric rise
Trampoline moved into high school sports for the first time organized by
to prominence in the Ontario sport scene. The clubs registered with OGF had
Frank Juhasz and George Harlow. Ontario Trampoline went to Nationals with
risen to 104 and 15,840 members. This year Mississauga Gym Club led the way
three full teams of 5 competitors and 2 Senior Women. Senior Men’s team
in registrations. Slava Corn became president of OGF.
won the gold medal.
Ed Brougham was elected President of CGF after serving
At Canada Games Brad Peters coached by
as Ontario President for five years. Ed was also the recipient
Eugene Galperin won the All-Around title. His
of the Ontario Government’s Special Sports Recognition
cousin, 10 year old Melissa Hawrylyshyn, coached by
Achievement Award. The clubs presented Ed with a
Brian McVey, won the gold medal on balance beam.
beautiful bronze gymnastics statue to thank him for his contribution to Ontario Gymnastics. Nigel Rothwell and Marc Epprecht were on the The International and National calendar for this year was extremely full again;
Men’s Team competing at Pan Ams. Coaches were
as usual Ontario played a significant roll. Occurring this year were: World
Mary Lea Palmer and Masaaki Naosaki.
Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Pan American Games in Puerto Rico,
The Women’s floor routines during this era were
Canada Games in Brandon, Manitoba and CGF Selection Meet hosted by the
done to live piano music, (rules called for a single
Sudbury Gym Club.
instrument) so Devaughn David was part of the Canadian team.
The World Championship Women’s Team for Canada came close to being Ontario against the World as 6 of 8 members were from Ontario. They were: Elfi Schlegel,
The Women’s team had
Ellen Stewart, Diana Carnegie,
unprecedented success, winning the
Shannon Fleming, Kathy
team gold medal.
McMorrow and Patty-Jo Knorr. Sherry Hawco was also taken as
Diana Carnegie, Monica Goermann,
part of the Canadian contingent to
Ellen Stewart, Elfi Schlegel,
demonstrate the new compulsory
Carmen Alie, Sherry Hawco
beam for the next cycle. The At FISU Games, our Men sent a team
routine had been choreographed by Natasha Bajin of York University Gym Club.
34
The Men’s team included Marc Epprecht, Frank Nutzenberger and Danny Gaudet of
that included Marc Epprecht; the success of the team made the world aware of
Ontario. Both the Men and Women qualified teams for the 1980 Olympic Games.
their rise in the gymnastics community.
1980 The beginning of a new decade will be remembered for growth of the sport as the
Nutzenberger, David Steeper, Marc Epprecht, and Nigel Rothwell. Coaches were
membership rose to 115 clubs and a membership of 16,415.
Mary Lea Palmer and Tom Zivic. Mary Lea presented her participation medal to Leanne Gallant who came fourth in the trials but was ineligible for the team due
Susan Harris was elected president of OGF replacing Slava Corn who, after many
to an error in the testing system.
years of dedicated service to Ontario gymnastics, was moving on to assume
Richard Kihn was awarded the 1980 Government Special
national and international level duties.
Achievement Award for his great contribution to gymnastics Two new major facilities were opened this year.
Burlington Gymnastics Club
both artistic and rhythmic, over many years.
spearheaded by Noel Thomas and head coach, Bob Wiggins, opened their doors. Oshawa Gemini with
The major undertaking
head coach Leonid
of the World Cup was
Grakovsky also began
in Ontario at Maple Leaf
to train in their new
Gardens. It was organized
facility.
by Ontario’s gymnastic brain trust including
The NCCP program tripled the number of certified coaches. Many of the clubs
Colin Wackett (Chair), Jan
were staffed by full time professional coaches. Since gymnastics had moved into
Waldauf, Sue Harris, Slava
the mainstream in Canadian sport, results were stronger and more consistent.
Corn, Richard Kihn and Ed Brougham. It took a total of over 300 volunteers and
Canada was now invited to all significant international competitions.
many hours of hard work to make this event a resounding success.
Canada boycotted the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow as a result of the Soviet Union’s
Elfi Schlegel (coached by
attack of Afghanistan. Since this was the first time Canada had qualified both Men’s
Mary-Lea and Geoff Palmer)
and Women’s teams in gymnastics, this boycott was even more devastating. This
won a bronze medal on vault at
boycott subsequently led to the 1984 boycott in Los Angeles by most of the eastern
the World Cup – the first FIG
bloc countries. Two Olympic Games were diminished by the political cold war.
medal for a Canadian.
Although Olympic attendance was prohibited, the selection process was completed
John Ross was crowned
and the gymnasts who qualified were celebrated as Olympians: Elfi Schlegel, Ellen
the senior men’s national
Stewart, Kathy McMorrow, Linda Bartolin, Sherry Hawco, Danny Gaudet, Frank
trampoline champion.
35
1981 In 1981 club registration reached 123 and membership rose to 22,006.
The men won the Senior team title. Nigel Rothwell and Danny Gaudet captured the silver and bronze medals respectively.
The men from Ontario started to dominate the world teams for Canada and the women continued to dominate. Ontario placed four women: Sara Aggiss,
At the Canadian National Trampoline Championships Junior and Senior women
Leanne Gallant, Elfi Schlegel, and Kelly Brown and five men: Danny Gaudet,
as well as Senior men all walked away with the team trophies. In Senior Men and
Frank Nutzenberger, Nigel Rothwell, Brad Peters, and Allan Reddon on the World
Senior Women John Ross and Allison Pester respectively won the individual titles.
team. The Ontario coaches were Mary Lea Palmer and Tom Zivic. Even though the previous year Canada had boycotted the Olympics in Moscow our team was
Ed Brougham of Ontario was also re-elected as the president of CGF.
allowed to attend World Championships this year. Our National Federation (CGF) sponsored an Olympic alternative for the athletes denied the Olympic experience.
Another major gym club opened in Kingston offering both artistic gymnastics and
A number of the boycotting teams travelled to the New Zealand Games for an
trampoline under the leadership of Sue Menard and Dave Ross.
international competition. Travelling on behalf of Canada for the women were Elfi Schlegel, Leanne Gallant, Shannon Fleming and for the men Allan Reddon.
Colin Wackett received the Government of Ontario Special Achievement Award for his many years of
In the Women’s Program the National Testing Program which had helped raise
contribution to the sport.
the standard of our athletes continued. Of the 35 athletes Ontario sent to testing, 31 were successful.
Gymnastics expanded its horizons this year as 400 Ontario gymnasts took part in large half time spectacular displays in Toronto and Ottawa Ontario was again very successful at National Championships. The women’s teams won Gold in all three levels: Novice, Junior, and Senior. They also captured gold and silver medals in Senior women,
Sherry Hawco and Elfi Schlegel respectively.
36
at CFL games. Janice Duncan was the driving force behind this initiative.
1982 In the never ending expansion of gymnastics three clubs topped the 1000 registration mark this year, lead by Winstonettes with 1348 registrations. The office moved to 1120 Shepherd Avenue. At National Championships, Ontario won every team title and almost all of the individual All–Around titles and, as expressed by OGF president Sue Harris, “This is in large part due to the dedication and professionalism of the talented coaches in the province.” In senior competition for men Junichi Kitigawa won gold and Danny Gaudet silver. The Women’s team narrowly missed the gold medal but placed athletes second through sixth. Of note in Women’s Junior Ontario athletes were first to fourth. Led by Ontario athletes, Canada was becoming a trampoline power in the world. At the Ennia Gold Cup in Holland, Canada was the top country led by John Ross, gold medallist. John also won the US Open. At the World championships he placed third, giving Canada its first medal ever. His routine was judged the most difficult trampoline routine at the competition. This year’s deserving recipient of the province’s Special Sports Achievement Award was Mary
Nichol of
Burlington who for years has given countless hours as a judge, coach, committee member and leader of OGF’s Recreation Education Committee.
Patti-Jo Knorr, Linda Bartolini, Benita Rope, Sherry Hawco The expansion of gymnastics dedicated facilities continued as the Cambridge Kips opened their facility after years of training in a high school. Other facilities for gymnastics were appearing as plans were in place for the Sault Silhouettes and North Bay Apollo’s. The Burlington BG’s opened the first facility dedicated to boys gymnastics in Canada. The club had been formed in 1978 by former Olympian Steve Mitruk. The North York Xoces-Eagles received the keys to the city for their outstanding feats in Provincial, National, and International competition. Marilyn Savage was inducted into the Canadian Amateur Hall of Fame as a Builder of Gymnastics at the Canadian Olympic Association Annual Meeting. “She virtually trained all the female gymnasts from the early 60’s to well into the 70’s, and thus lifted gymnastics in Canada from a “B” sport to an “A” sport.” The Women’s Coaching Development Program was approved this year. This Program provided one apprentice coach from each region to learn and develop in all aspects of coaching, and hopefully then to share this throughout their region. Coaching development coordinators were
Brian McVey, Dave Holmes and Mary Lea Palmer.
37
1983 Gymnastics was the fastest growing sport in Ontario with the club count rising
With the World Student Games being held in Canada, both men and women sent
to 136 clubs and the gymnast registration to 30,388. Winstonettes again topped
full teams. Women’s team: Elfi Schlegel, Sara Aggiss and Jill Teskey. Danny Gaudet,
the club registration hit parade with an outstanding 1817 registrations. A total
Brad Peters, Frank Nutzenberger and Allan Reddon were part of the men’s team.
of 16 clubs passed the 500 mark. A long time club, the Scarborough Olympians, founded by Pat Leith, celebrated the opening of their new facility at the Ellesmere
At the World Championships both men and
Community Centre.
women qualified a full team thanks to the excellent performances of Elfi, Janice Kerr, Leanne Gallant
Ontario athletes, coaches and judges prepared for the World Championships,
and Andrea Thomas, Danny, Brad, Frank and
World Student Games, Pan American Games and Canada Games. The “Modern
Allan). At the pre-Olympic meet in Los Angeles
Rhythmic” Gymnastics Federation was officially merged with OGF. A mock
Andrea Thomas won silver on Beam.
marriage was held between David Williams (Rhythmic president) and Susan Harris (Artistic President) with Albert Dippong officiating at the “ceremony” with his FIG Code of Points!! Rhythmics also became part of the Olympic Movement. The advance preparation for Canada Games paid off with the women’s team winning gold, Jessica Tudos and Andrea Thomas tying for the All-Around gold. Andrea Owoc won bronze.
Curtis Hibbert came into prominence for the first time winning the All- round Gold for Men at the Games.
Back: Tom Bertrand, Lorne Bobkin, Sean McManus, Mike Inglis, Curtis Hibbert, Alan Nolet, Shaun Jaikaran, Mary Lea Palmer Front: Ildiko Hattyer, Janice Kerr, Susanne DeValk, Andrea Owoc, Jessica Tudos, Andrea Thomas
York University Team
Geoff Palmer and Senior Champions
Again at Nationals, Ontario won all the team championships including gold medals for individuals at all levels except the junior men. The Senior Champions were Danny Gaudet and Mary
Lyon. In trampoline John Ross and Allison Pester were again senior champions. A spectacular display by 500 Artistic and Rhythmic gymnasts from all over the province performed at the half-time show at the CFL game at the CNE. This year’s Provincial Special Sport Achievement Award went to Susan Harris who continued to provide leadership in the sport in so many ways.
38
1984 With 135 clubs and 30,388 members the highlight for 1984 was the L.A. Olympics. On the women’s side the process of athlete
Nationals and the Games due to an injury. In Rhythmic Sportive Championships, Kristin Douglas of Lincoln Gym Club won Senior Premasters. At the Eastern Canadian Championships, Arabesque Gym Club won the Senior Master Group.
selection was unique and
National Championships were held at Waterloo under
fraught with controversy.
Chair, Susan Harris. 350 volunteers contributed to the
The final selection took
great success. There was even a profit of $3000!!!
place at a training camp
Ontario Men won the team led by Frank
and 6 day competition
Nutzenberger who won the Senior All-Around.
in Los Angeles. Of the 12
Ontario won both the Junior and Novice team and the All-
athletes in this meet 8 Olympic team
Around honours (Janine Rankin and Monica Covacci).
were from Ontario. Ontario athletes selected were Andrea Thomas, Kelly
Brown, Andrea Owoc and Jessica Tudos and coach MaryLea Palmer. Andrea Owoc suffered an injury and could not compete. The team finished 5th and Kelly Brown finished
Gymnastics Mississauga, in partnership with the City of Mississauga moved into a new permanent 18,500 sq ft. facility, complete with bleacher seating for 400 spectators. Mayor Hazel McCallion was in attendance and is still mayor in 2008 at the age of 87!
6th on vault.
The men’s Olympic team consisted of Danny Gaudet, Brad Peters, Allan Reddon, Frank Nutzenberger and coach, Tom Zivic. The team finished 7th. In Rhythmic gymnastics Adrianne Dunnett (coached by Liliana Dimitrova) qualified for the Olympic Games. This Olympic year brought the sports spotlight to Rhythmic gymnastics, and increased public awareness of its athletic expertise and artistry. Unfortunately Adrianne missed
At the Panasonic Cup (Chair Ed Brougham) at Maple Leaf Gardens in November, Ildiko Hattyer and Brad Peters stood on the top of the podium. Steve McLean, a graduate of York University, was accepted into the Canadian Astronaut Program. 39
1985 The Ontario Gymnastic Federation membership was now 35,483 and 145 clubs.
The Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Recreation announced the Best Ever program. With the goal of improving the performance of Ontario athletes at the
The AGM Banquet was held at the Ukrainian Caravan and featured entertainment
’88 Olympics, funding was put in place for several initiatives including quadrennial
by a troupe of Cossack dancers. Elfi Schlegel received the OGF Special
planning and the Athlete Development Model and Provincial Carding of athletes.
Achievement Award. Bob Proctor, a motivational speaker, partnered with the OGF, to raise funds and
Tom Zivic’s contribution as a coach, judge, volunteer
commitment to supporting the sport.
and author, was recognised with a Special Achievement Award at the Ontario Sports Awards Banquet. Under
November 23rd marked the official opening of the first dedicated boys’
Tom’s leadership the York University Men’s Gymnastics
gymnastics training centre in Canada.
Program dominated Provincial and National university championships for more than 12 years, and produced many members of the Canadian National Team. Ontario dominated the 1985 National Artistic Championships winning every team gold medal.
Monica Covacci placed
first and Curtis Hibbert placed second in individual All-Around. Ron Masotti was the Senior Men’s Trampoline Champion at Nationals. Brad Peters took the bronze medal on parallel bars at the Universiade in Japan. Universiade,
Kobe, Japan Sudbury hosted the Rhythmic National Championships in which Ontario gymnasts, led by Mary Fuzesi, swept all categories except Senior Elite. 40
The Burlington B.G.’s. After 5 years as the volunteer editor of the “Ontario Gymnast” Diane Kalenchuk retired and passed the pencil on to Lil Babineau in the OGF office. Ontario sent a Novice Women’s team to compete in England
1986 1986 was a year of growth as 20 out of the Federation’s 146 clubs boasted
The Danish Display Team visited Ontario twice on its North American tour. Their
memberships over 500. Scarborough Olympians topped the list with 2,199
performance featured a great variety of acts: intricate dance and gymnastics
members. The trend to move to permanent facilities continued to grow as
routines, sport acrobatics and pyramids, high-horse vaulting and mini-tramp,
Newmarket Gymnastics and Fitness Academy, Kingston Gym Club, St. Catharine’s
group rhythmic routines and even folk dancing. This provided encouragement
Sparks and Forest City Gym Club, among others, found new homes.
to get involved in Provincial and National Gymnaestradas and the new Group Gymnastics competitions. GCG launched the Dev’l Leader manuals and many
It was another busy and rewarding competitive year. Ontario bouncers had great
Ontario clubs adopted this coach-in-training program
results at the World Age Group Trampoline Championships in Moulin, France.
Brian McVey was awarded the Syl Apps Award for Mary Fuzesi tied for Junior Champion at the Four
his contribution to gymnastics.
Continents Rhythmics meet held at Varsity Arena. On a sad note, the OGF The Senior group in RG was won by Arabesque.
lost a long-time and valued volunteer with the unexpected passing of Jay Goold.
The goal of increased opportunities for all levels was
An OGF award, to be presented to the volunteer whose
addressed by tours to California for Provincial “A” stream
administrative skills have enhanced the sport within Ontario,
women and to Charlesbourg, Quebec, for both young men
was established to commemorate him.
and young women. Mississauga Gym Club hosted the Canadian Classic for Junior Artistic Women, where Larissa Lowing and Debbie Johnstone placed 5th and 6th in an international field. Mary-Lea Palmer, Janine Rankin, Larissa Lowing and Debbie Vidmar at Moscow Riga
Meanwhile the Rec-Ed Committee continued to promote fitness through “Gymnastics For All” with its Rec-Ed Symposium and CFL Half-Time Show. 41
1987 Under the leadership of Lester Wood, President, and Kerry Moynihan, Executive
to the Development Programs Assembly. A new sponsor came on board: Discount
Director, 1987 was a year of accomplishments, initiatives, and challenges.
Truck and Car Rentals supported the CFL Half-Time Show (Janis Duncan’s “baby”)
Membership had grown to 45,479 and 143 clubs. In January the first issue of the
and the Rec-Ed Symposium.
in-house publication, ‘Gymnastics Today’ was published.
Tamara Bompa was named Air Canada Official Curtis Hibbert, coached by Masaaki Naosaki,
of the Year.
won the silver medal on high bar at the World Championships in Rotterdam. Leading the Canadian
Keeping Our Participants Safe -The OGF adopted the policy
Men’s team to 8th place, Curtis was the only non-
of NCCP Technical Level 1 being the minimum requirement
eastern block athlete to medal.
to be registered as a coach, and took the first steps in the development of our Risk Management program.
The Reach for the Sky Trampoline competition was sanctioned as a World Cup Event.
OGF provided on-going support to all sectors of the gymnastics community through fundraising (the Super Sport Lottery) and obtaining sponsors
Women’s teams from France and Great Britain met
(Tambrands, Discount). To assure availability of equipment for major meets,
Canada at the first Challenge Cup at Seneca College.
OGF obtained an equipment agreement with Alka International. Training events such as Gym Med, a sports medicine symposium and a Sport Marketing Seminar
Lori Strong was named 1987 Sports
with David Wilkinson (OVA) were organized. The OGF Gymnastics poster series,
Federation of Canada Junior Athlete of the Year.
representing various disciplines, was launched. Ontario gymnasts were featured in a Pringles commercial!
Evelyn Koop was named the Sports Federation of Canada’s top volunteer
Rhoda Silzer, Meet Director for ’78 Nationals and OGF
for her contributions to
Board member, was recognized with a Special Achievement
Rhythmics.
Award at the Ontario Sports Award ceremony.
Recognition of valued volunteers came into being with the initiation of OGF Volunteer Service Pins. An increased focus on programs for the largest part of our membership saw the Rec-Ed Committee morph into the Development Steering Committee, reporting
42
1988 1988 was a busy year with 44,207 members and events of an Olympic year.
Gymnasts became very interested in tumbling,
The Federation was also busy hosting the ’88 Nationals in Hamilton, the Four
and at the Tumbling Nationals, 4 Ontario
Continents Rhythmic Championships in Toronto, a Trampoline Festival and World
gymnasts entered and placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd and
Cup, the RG Olympic Trials, Elite Canada and Symposium ’88 “Kids are Great”.
5th. Stella Umeh was the Junior Tumbling Champion. This was the beginning of the real
On the competitive scene the Canadian Women’s
growth in tumbling in Ontario.
team of Ontario gymnasts, Leah Homma, Koyuki Oka, Stella Umeh and Charlotte Pipe, won the Junior
FIG approved two new moves named after Ontario
Pacific Alliance Meet over 10 other countries. Leah
athletes: the ‘Strong” – a shoot 1 ½ over LB on
won the All- Around gold.
bars and the “Rankin” - a one-armed handstand mount on the balance beam.
Our gymnasts and trampolinists helped the Ontario Science Centre present “The Science of Sport” exhibition.
Former Ontario gymnast, coach and judge, Hardy Fink was elected to the Men’s Technical Committee of the FIG.
Ron Masotti won his 4th National trampoline title. Margo Bulmar was recognized with the Syl Apps Ontario At the Four Continents the CRSGF recognised Evelyn
Award For her significant work with RG.
Koop’s contributions to the sport and Mary Fuzesi won the Junior title. Later in the year Mary was named the 1988 Junior Athlete of the Year. Sampo Club, Ritmika and the Thunder Bay Gymnastics Association represented Ontario at the Canadian Gymnaestrada in Winnipeg.
Carol Anne Letheren was named the first female Chef de Mission for the Canadian team to the Olympic Games. She was also named the Top Sports Volunteer of the Year by the Sport Federation of Canada. “Rebounder”, created by Michael Palmer, was named the OGF official mascot.
Olympix Team, Seoul Korea Lori Strong, Janine Rankin, Christina McDonald, Monica Covacci, Cathy Giancaspro, Larissa Lowing 43
1989 The Year of the Coach 1989 may have been declared the Year of the Coach, but it was also the year of: • the opening of Skydome, featuring over 200 trampolinists and gymnasts in a mass demonstration. • Franny Jewett won the National Trampoline title
• Margo Bulmer left her position as RSG Technical Chair to take up the challenge of coordinating the High Performance Program for CRSGF. • Bill Spurrell, founder of the Reach for the Sky Trampoline Festival, and his wife, Janice, trampoline volunteer and judge, retired. Their efforts were acknowledged at this year’s Festival.
• the National Men’s Age Group Tour to Moscow, which was reported on in detail by Allan Reddon • recognition by the IOC of the Sport of Trampoline • the best ever Canadian Women’s showing at the
Gymnastics lost a good friend with the passing of Dr. Bryce Taylor. After chairing the HPE Department at York University for 12 years, Bryce served as President of the CAC and the Canadian and Commonwealth Gymnastics Federations. He was also VP of the CAO and worked to bring the ‘96 Olympics to Toronto.
Belgian International by Larissa Lowing • the Sunshine Boys – two of our young men were
World Teams
featured in the Toronto Sun! • the Gym-Med Symposium, as a response to a wide survey on injuries in gymnastics The August issue of OGF Today focused on the international involvement of Ontario gymnasts and described at least 11 events attended by our national athletes in preparation for the World Championships in Stuttgart. It paid off with
Back: Ed Nowalkowski, Dave Arnold, Rob Paradis, Jeff Thompson, Dave Copeland, Claude Latendresse, Masaaki Naosaki; Front: Davide Bardana, Robert Noory, Curtis Hibbert, Alan Nolet, Scott Macdonald
a 6th place finish for the Women’s team, made up entirely of Ontarians. Larissa Lowing made vault finals and Curtis Hibbert placed 5th on HB. All but one of the men’s team were from Ontario. Meanwhile, back at the office, membership had grown to 45,496. Joe Rabel became the new Executive Director, and Janis Hric took over the reins of OGF Today. The Mastercard Affinity program was launched. An OGF calendar was produced and ‘Year of the Coach” key chains were a hot item. • Susan Harris received the GO Special Achievement Award. • Gene Sutton was named Hamilton’s “Woman of the Year”.
44
Back: Leonid Grakovsky, Jean-Paul Caron, Janine Rankin, Carol-Angela Orchard, Seymen Lau, Mary Lea Palmer, Lori Strong, Debbie Vidmar, Monica Covacci, Brian McVey; Front: Kerry Kanuka, Larrisa Lowing, Leah Homma, Koyuki Oka
1990 Canada’s outstanding achievement at the 1990 Commonwealth Games was featured on the cover of INTERNATIONAL GYMNAST magazine! Ten of the eleven Artistic team members hailed from Ontario. The Men’s team
Did you know? The Reach for the Sky Trampoline Festival features, along with the standard events, the Big Splash where competitors bounce into Lake Ontario, and the Two Trick Spectacular on trampoline.
of Curtis Hibbert, Alan, Nolet, Lorne Bobkin, and Claude Latendresse, and the Women’s team of Lori Strong, Larissa
Linda Whitfield was the Meet Director for the Women’s Interprovincial Cup hosted
Lowing, Stella Umeh, Janet Morin, Monica Covacci) took
in Kingston.
team gold medals. In Rhythmics, Mary Fuzesi and Madonna Gimotea brought home 4 golds, 5 silvers and 1 bronze medal between them.
The months of March to November were filled with 16 club out-of-province tours. A Committee led by Susan Harris set out to develop a long-term hosting strategy.
Along with the usual busy schedule of qualifying, carding and selection meets,
Slava Corn was elected President of CGF.
training camps and recreation participation events, two meets are especially
Carol Anne Letheren became president of COA.
deserving of mention. OGF hosted the Canadian Airlines
Cup, at the Skydome. Larissa Lowing
Elfi Schlegel became assistant coach under Ernestine Weaver at the University of Florida while continuing as a media commentator.
and Lori Strong came out on top of
Lester Wood returned from his
a field of gymnasts from Romania
retreat in Squid Cove, N.S., to receive
and China. Curtis Hibbert was 2nd
the Ontario Sports Awards Special
All-Around against athletes from
Achievement Award.
China, USA, Great Britain and France. Everyone will remember the closing banquet at the Hard Rock Café!
Ontario gymnasts posted excellent results at World Cup events. Mary Fuzesi placed 7th, the highest ranking
The CNE National Men’s Meet, the brainchild of Tom Bertrand, was the first meet
ever for a Canadian at this Rhythmics event.
in Canada to feature cash prizes in the form of $1000 bursaries for each event winner. On the second day, the judges were replaced by a media VIP who judged
The Trampoline team to the World Championships in
the athletes on their entertainment appeal for additional corporate gifts for the
Germany was made up of Ontario athletes Jean-Paul Aucoin,
first 3 in each event. George Zivic was deemed the most entertaining gymnast;
Paul Cameron, Chris Mitruk and Trevor Nassler. Franny
Curtis Hibbert had the most professional presentation, Ken White the most
Jewett and Heather Ross were on the Women’s team. Lisa
original routine and Mike Inglis the most outrageous routine (a vault).
Colussi was a member of the bronze medal tumbling team.
45
1991 OGF have 139 clubs registered along with 45,496 individual members.
Sherry Hawco Delanty passed away, a victim of breast cancer, at age 27, having just
The outstanding performances of Ontario’s gymnasts helped the Ontario team win
given birth to her son, Brandon. Sherry was
the Canada Winter Games Flag. The Games provides a unique opportunity for the
a Cambridge Kips gymnast who was on the
second tier of athletes (no carded athletes or World/Olympic team members are
National Women’s Artistic team from 1977–
eligible) to experience the ambiance of a multi-sport event.
83. She contributed to Canada’s gold medal placing at the 1978 Commonwealth and 1979
The Rec-Ed Symposium had a record number in attendance (234). Kaarina Dillabough was awarded the Syl Apps Award.
Pan Am Games. Elfi Schlegel was appointed a CBC National Sports Commentator. Following an illustrious competitive career and graduation from the University of Florida
A busy season of meets included: Interprovincial Cup in Thunder Bay,
in 1986, Elfi freelanced with all three Canadian networks covering not only
RSG Elite Ontario at Humber College, Ontario Elite Artistic Gymnastics, Trampoline
gymnastics, but also the Grey Cup and the Winter Olympics.
Championships, the second CNE Challenge and the Koop Cup International for RG, in which Mary Fuzesi and Madonna Gimotea placed second and third respectively.
Tara Sherwood (London Gym Kips) and Stacey Galloway (Mississauga) helped Canadian women win the bronze medal at the Pan American Games in Havana.
At the National Artistic and Trampoline Championships in Saskatoon, Heather Ross and Chris Mitruk set Canadian records for Double Mini Tramp.
Dave Arnold was named the CGF Coach of the Year, the first time this award was given.
National RSG Championships were dominated by Madonna
November 1st marked the last day of Lil Babineau’s
Gimotea of Seneca.
employment at OGF, ending a 17
Teams from Kalev Estienne,
year era. She guided the OGF as it
Sampo and Ritmika travelled to
grew from 3420 members in 1975 to 47000 in 1991. She
Amsterdam for this huge non-
took on a multitude of responsibilities over the years and
competitive event.
was always remembered for her cheerful willingness to help. Connected with the East York Gym Club for over
At the World Championships, 15 of the 16 team members hailed from
30 years, she celebrated its move to a large facility at
Ontario. Stella Umeh placed 17th All-Around, leading the team to a 12th place
1100 O’Connor Dr. the same month.
finish and a qualifying spot for the Olympics. The Men’s team placed 16th; Mike Inglis placed 5th on vault. 46
1992 Membership in gymnastics now stood at 45,882 and 140 clubs.
The OGF made club incorporation mandatory, ensuring better legal protection for its member clubs. The Risk Management Program continued in full swing with a
Janet Morin, Stella Umeh, Janine Rankin, Lori Strong, Curtis Hibbert, Mike
Safety Video and Participant’s Data Sheet including Notification of Risks.
Inglis, Alan Nolet, and Madonna Gimotea, along with coaches Alex Bard, Debbie Vidmar, Liliana
Former National team gymnast and Ottawa native
Dimitrova and Masaaki Naosaki, and judges
Steve MacLean became Canada’s third astronaut as
Robin McLeod and Tamara Bompa. participated
part of the NASA space program. Steve was a member
in the Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.
of the York University Gym Club.
Slava Corn was elected to FIG executive. Mary-Lea Palmer, Gene Sutton, Alex Bard, Robin McLeod, Slava Corn, Jean-Paul Caron in Barcelona.
Variety Village started up a Recreational Rhythmic Gymnastics Program. Making their own shorter ribbons opened the experience to all children.
The National Stream Cup was held at McMaster University
Mary Fuzesi, Canada’s most successful Rhythmic
in Hamilton. Junior and Senior Women’s teams from 8 provinces took part,
gymnast to date, (coached by Liliana Dimitrova at Seneca),
with Ontario winning both levels. The meet provided an additional competitive
announced her retirement. Her career included being the
opportunity for National stream athletes, coaches and judges.
first Western athlete to win a medal at a World event (a bronze in ribbon at the 1990 Belgium World Cup).
Elite Ontario was held in Collingwood, a community that supported the meet 100% although it did not have a gymnastics club.
Ed Brougham, OGF president, retired after 39 years with Molson Breweries, won three major duplicate bridge
At the 9th Annual Reach for the Sky Trampoline Festival,
tournaments, including a North American Championship!
a 4 way tie was broken by competing a 6 bounce routine,
Who knew?
rather than the usual 10 skills.
Jean-Paul Aucoin won his 4th National title in trampoline. Curtis Hibbert and Stella Umeh won the
Lenke Szathmary was awarded the Syl Apps Ontario Government Award for her significant contribution to women’s and school gymnastics.
Artistic National titles.
47
1993 The Ontario Gymnastic Federation’s twenty-fifth year showed a membership of
Trampoline and Tumbling National
141 clubs with 50,695 individual members. This year was celebrated with a parade
Championships (Chair Steve Mitruk) were held
of excellence by our athletes, coaches and volunteers.
at York University in Toronto. Chris Mitruk was crowned champion in both Trampoline and
Curtis Hibbert won his sixth consecutive Senior Men’s
Double Mini breaking 2 World Difficulty levels.
National Championship and then retired after 12 years on the
Ontario Tumbling teams won all 3 levels.
national team. Reach for the Sky International Trampoline Ontario athletes chosen as athletes of the decade in their
Festival at Harbourfront on the July 1st weekend
respective disciplines included Lori Strong (Artistic), Mary
provided some exciting routines including the
Fuzesi (Rhythmic) and Heather Ross
crowd pleasing Big Splash.
(Trampoline). Stella Umeh was selected as the Women’s Artistic Athlete of the Year.
The Ontario Gymnaestrada was held at Variety Village in Toronto in June with 350 participants.
National champions were Curtis Hibbert, Stella Umeh and Madonna Gimotea in
In November gymnastics returned to Maple Leaf Gardens with the first World
Rhythmics.
Gymnastics Challenge hosted jointly by CGF and OGF. The Challenge featured a field of the top men and women from eight countries. The All-Around winners
Slava Corn was awarded the Donald King
were Romania’s Gina Gogean and Italy’s Yuri Chechi.
Memorial Award as Canada’s outstanding sport volunteer.
The culmination of the year was the Twenty Fifth Anniversary Banquet at the Delta Chelsea Inn in downtown Toronto. The guests of honour were the Past Presidents
At the Artistic National Championships
of the Federation who were presented
in Calgary Slava Corn presented Alex
with plaques. John Hunter, the
Bard and Svetlana Degteva with the Marilyn Savage High Performance
Federation’s first President, gave
Coach of the Year Award.
an overview of how far we have progressed in twenty five years. Also
Janis Hric was awarded the Ontario Government
honoured were several builders and
Syl Apps Special Achievement Award.
outstanding contributors to OGF. Colin Wackett was the emcee with his usual aplomb and good humor.
48
National Champions
1994 Federation membership decreased by 1 club to 140 clubs and individual members
In October the Federation moved to its fourth home - the new Sports Centre,
decreased from 50,695 to 50,118. This small drop in numbers does not reflect
formerly the Nestle Building, located on Eglinton Avenue East at Don Mills Road.
yearly trends that show a continuing growth of gymnastics in Ontario. In response to membership questions about recruitment and retention of members the clubs
Pat Leith received the Ontario Government Syl Apps
were surveyed to develop a model of OGF members. The survey showed there has
Special Achievement Award
been an average annual 60% turnover rate in membership in the past 6 years, but the rate approaches 85% in preschool
The World Gymnastics Challenge moved to Copp’s Coliseum
members. 75% of the members are
in Hamilton with great support from Mayor Bob Morrow.
female and 41% are below the age of 6.
Seven countries competed at the November event with Romania’s Gina Gogean again winning the All-Around gold medal and Evgeni Chabaev taking the men’s.
Senior All-Around National winners were
Ed Brougham chaired the organizing committee.
Alan Nolet and Stacey Galloway Elfi Schlegel was hired by NBC as a sportscaster. Senior Synchro Trampoline National winners were Franny Jewett, Megan Cox and Paul Cameron. Sport Seneca won the Senior Group gold medal at the Rhythmic
Strategic Planning recommendations for the future
National Championships.
were established to improve coaching, build stronger clubs, improve the image of gymnastics and become
At the Commonwealth Games Stella Umeh won the
financially self reliant.
All-Around gold medal and the men’s team won the team gold (Travis Romangnoli, Alan Nolet) and RSG won the
Carol Anne Letheren received a Honourary Doctorate of
team gold.
Laws from the University of Toronto.
Heather Smiley won gold in Tumbling at the World Age
Susan Harris received the Investors Group National
Group Championships in Lisbon, Portugal – Canada’s 1st!
Sport Administrators Award.
49
1995 The Federation added only one club in 95, but individual membership jumped by
Sport Aerobics became
almost five thousand. The ratio of 75% women to 25% men remained the same.
a discipline in 1995 with the first Canadian
An era ended in 1995 with the retirement
Championships being
of Ed Brougham after 25 consecutive
held in London. Holly
years as a member of the Board of
Abraham attended Worlds
Directors. During that time he served as
in Berlin as Ontario’s first
the president of both OGF and CGF. To
Brevet judge.
honour Ed for his exceptional commitment to gymnastics the Board named the Resource Centre after him.
John Biggs was elected President of the Canadian Rhythmic Sportive Gymnastic Federation.
At the Trampoline and Tumbling Nationals, Ontario won the team gold in Individual Trampoline and Karen Cockburn took the Women’s gold medal. More good news for
Liz Armitage won the Ontario Syl Apps Special
Trampoline was their inclusion in the Ontario Winter Games for the first time.
Achievement Award.
Other Ontario athletes to win National Championships
The Koop Cup was held in June at Varsity Arena in Toronto,
were Jennifer Exaltacion, Senior Hi-Performance
with an admission price of one Loonie.
Women gold at the Artistic Nationals, and Erica –Leigh Stirton at the RSG Championships.
The third World Gymnastics Challenge, chaired by George Curran, was again hosted in Hamilton at Copps Coliseum in November. A strong field of 23 athletes from seven
The Ontario Gymnaestrada was held at The University
countries competed in the event. The Women’s All-Around gold medal was won by
of Ottawa. There were 450 participants ranging in age
Lilia Podkopayeva, who later went of to become World and Olympic Champion.
from 6 to 60. Canada’s Alan Nolet took home the At the Canada Winter Games in Grand Prairie, Ontario won team gold in Men’s and Women’s Artistic and Rhythmic helping Ontario to win the Games. Rhythmic girls took the top three spots: Erica-Leigh Stirton first, Janice Chan second and Valerie Morelli third. Twelve Ontario athletes competed at The
Pan-Am Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina. 50
Men’s gold.
1996 In 1996 the number of clubs increased from 141 to 161 a 12% increase over
Chris Mitruk
1995, but individual membership dropped to 55,190 a decrease of over 4,400
won his 1st World
from the previous year.
Championships in Double Atlanta Georgia hosted the 1996 Olympics.
Mini Tramp in
Gymnasts representing Ontario were Yvonne
Vancouver. The
Tousek, Jennifer Exaltacion, Shannon
Mini Tramp Team
MacEachern and Alan Nolet (his 3rd Olympic
of Chris Mitruk,
Games). Elvira Saadi was the Women’s team coach.
Jean-Paul Aucoin
Gene Sutton was the team leader.
also won Gold. Lisa Colussi won silver in Double Mini Tramp.
Artistic National Championships returned to Ontario in 1996 hosted by the city of Sault Saint Marie.
The Federation entered into a partnership with the Ontario Physical Health and
Canadian astronaut Roberta Bondar, a Sault native,
Education Association to develop a school program for grades five to eight.
participated in the opening ceremonies and held the delegations rapt attention with her “Share the Dream” speech. 96 Nationals were co-chaired by Pat Duggan
Sport Aerobics development continued with an introductory workshop in August
and George Curran. Over 700 volunteers supported the Championships.
with 21 clubs being represented.
Lena Degteva won the Senior title.
The Bluewater International Invitational for Women’s Artistic gymnastics was hosted in Sarnia.
Former President of The Ontario Sports Centre Barry Nye, was elected as the Chair of the GCG
Kalev Estienne celebrated their twenty-fifth anniversary.
Board of Directors.
Linda Whitfield of Kingston received The Syl Apps Ontario Special Achievement Award. In September the first OGF Coaching Congress was held in Toronto. This multi-disciplined event drew 125 coaches from across the province.
51
1997 In 1997 the number of clubs increased from 161 to 165, with individual
Elvira Saadi was recognized by The Ontario Ministry of
membership increasing by almost 4,000 to 58,921. There were 8 new clubs with 4
Citizenship, Culture and Recreation as the Ontario Female
clubs not returning from last year.
Coach of the Year.
The Ontario Gymnaestrada was hosted at Humber College in late May with over
Mary Nichol was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame of
400 participants. For the second consecutive year Artistic Nationals were held in
the University of Western Ontario, partly in recognition of
Ontario hosted by GCG in Ottawa.
her commitment to the sport of gymnastics.
Internationally, the Canadian Women’s Team finished eighth at the World
Sadly, in August, Eugene Oryszcyn passed away. Eugene
Championships. Five athletes from Ontario were members of the team - Yvonne
judged 2 Olympic Games, 6 Worlds, 27 international
Tousek, Shanyn MacEachern, Sarah Deegan, Katie Rowland and Natalie
competitions and was Canada’s 1st Honourary FIG judge.
Barrington. Travis Romagnoli and Peter Schmidt helped the men finish 17th.
Eugene was recognized as an Outstanding Contributor to the OGF at the 25th Anniversary Banquet. Perhaps the best way
Alan Nolet retired after an exceptional career.
to remember Eugene is to quote Sue Harris in a toast to his
Alan competed in three Olympic Games, 1988,
memory. She said, “My son, Todd, is a better person for having been coached by
1992 and 1996, seven World Championships, two
Eugene and for having known him.”
Pan-Am’s and two Commonwealth Games. He was the 1994 Senior Men’s champion and 1st AA at the 1995 World Gymnastics Challenge. National Champion, Erica-Leigh Stirton,
Sarah Deegan won the Women’s National
coached by Danuta Smiechowski of the
Championships title. Chris Mitruk and Lisa
Etobicoke Olympium, also placed an impressive
Colussi won gold in Double Mini, and Erica-
20th at the 1997 RSG World Championships in Berlin, Germany.
Leigh Stirton won Rhythmics.
At the Four Continents, RSG Championships the Senior Group from Ritmika
Chris was named the Canadian T&T Athlete of
placed 6th and the Junior team placed 4th.
the Year.
Dr. Gene Sutton was elected to the Canadian Olympic Association as a “B“ Director.
52
1998 GO club membership increased to 174 clubs this year, up seven from 1997. Individual memberships decreased to 52,359, a significant drop of more than
Maija Ceming was honoured by Ontario with
6,500 members from last year. Gene Sutton as President and Jean-Paul Caron
Ontario Government Syl Apps Special
as Executive Director were leading the Federation, which moved more into the
Achievement Award.
computer age with the introduction of “Club Link” to enhance registrations. What a change from when Bev Liston registered over 200,000 gymnasts by hand in the
In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the Commonwealth
early years of OGF.
Games, Katie Rowland, Crystal Gilmore and Peter Schmidt were on the bronze medal teams. Coaches
The Canadian National Gymnaestrada was hosted by Ontario in May in Ottawa.
were Elvira Saadi and David Arnold; judges were
750 individuals took part representing 44 clubs and six provinces. Rosemary
Judy Henderson, Fay Weiler and Susan Harris.
Redgrift chaired the organizing committee. Artistic Nationals were held in Ontario for the third consecutive year. Hamilton was the host city with the Chedoke Sport Complex as the venue. Dr. Gene Sutton chaired the organizing committee.
Chris Mitruk won his 3rd and 4th World Championship Medals (silver and bronze) in Double Mini Tramp – there would be 3
Evelyn Koop and Maija Ceming
Erica-Leigh Stirton won an unprecedented 6 medals in Rhythmics. Slava Corn was elected President of the Pacific Alliance of National Gymnastics Federation.
more added to his collections in future years.
Holly Abraham was selected to be the head judge at The Aerobic World Championships in Catania, Italy.
53
1999 Club membership increased to 181 clubs - an increase of 7 clubs. Individual
Also at the Pan Am Games, Emilie Livingston of
membership decreased for the second year by more than 2000 members.
Kalev won the All-Around Gold for Rhythmics. Sport Seneca hosted a Canada-USA Team Challenge
At the Trampoline and Tumbling World
Meet in May. Sport Aerobics National Open
Championships, Canada dominated on the
Competition was held in Toronto in August and the
Double Mini Tramp as Lisa Colussi-
FIG Sport Aerobics Commission met in Toronto at
Mitruk and Chris Mitruk, training at
Sport Seneca to draft the Aerobics Code of Points for
the Burlington Gymnastics Club, won
2001-2004.
gold medals.
A delightful surprise came in the summer of 1999 when the Canadian women won the gold
Angel Crossman was awarded the Province of Ontario
medal at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg.
Syl App’s Special Achievement Award.
Anchoring the team were Michelle Conway and Yvonne Tousek.
The same team went on to the World
Championships in China and qualified a full team to the Sydney Olympics.
54
2000 In 2000-2001 Gymnastics Ontario had 183 full member clubs and 63,713
51 National stream Rhythmic gymnasts performed individual routines at Elite
individual registered members. Gymnastics Ontario welcomed five new clubs,
Ontario. This event marked the final competition for Erika-Leigh Stirton who
Rhythmic Flames, Jungle Gym Gymnastics, Sault Ste. Marie YMCA Gymnastics,
wrapped up her long and award winning career capturing four gold medals in the
Greater Napanee Gymnastics Club and Skydragons.
Senior VI individual category and three gold medals in Senior Group. At the Sydney Olympic
The first Ontario Winter Games of the new millennium proved to be a great
Games Karen
success when the Sault Ste. Marie Gym Club hosted over 200 gymnasts, tumblers,
Cockburn and Mathieu Turgeon
trampolinists and Rhythmic gymnasts.
made history by
Fay Weiler was awarded the Syl Apps Award for her years
bringing home two
of leadership in the Women’s Artistic Program.
bronze medals in Trampoline. By virtue
Spectators had a preview of the 2000 Olympics at the
of their achievements,
Mississauga Hershey Centre, when a multi nation, Men’s and
they became Canadian heroes and role models for the future. Along with their
Women’s combined team competition was organized by Sue
coach Dave Ross, all three were named as the GCG Athletes and Coach of the
Harris, directed by Geoff Palmer
Year. Other Ontario members of the team at the Sydney Games included Artistic
and hosted by Gymnastics
gymnasts Michelle Conway and Yvonne Tousek, RG gymnast Emilie Livingston.,
Mississauga (President - Hazel
coaches Ludmila Dimitrova (RG) and Carol-Angela Orchard (Artistic) and judges
Williamson). The Showcase on
Susan Harris and Tamara Bompa. The Women’s Artistic team delivered their best
the second day was organized by
performance since 1976 placing 9th.
Mary Nichol.
Etobicoke Gymnastics Club, in partnership with GO hosted over 300 athletes, coaches, officials, and VIPS (and CBC crew) at the Canadian T & T Championships
Slava Corn was elected as the 1st vice-president of
- chaired by David Sandford.
the FIG -the first women to ever be elected to such a high position in the international gymnastics scene.
Ontario hosted 20 countries at the first FIG International Coaches Course for Aerobic Gymnastics at Sport Seneca. The event was chaired by Holly Abraham and Slava Corn. The World Team trials were included as a selection meet at this first ever GCG/GO Aerobics Gymnastics event.
55
2001 In 2001 there were 184 clubs with 67,794 registered individual members. The
At the 15th World Age Group Games in Odense, Denmark, Brenna Casey
following clubs were welcomed into the GO community: Planet Gymnastics, York
successfully defended her title in the Women’s Double Mini-Trampoline
Stars RG, Rhythm Dance RG, Miss Peggy’s Tumbling Stars, Antibes, Rhythmic, Air
17+ category.
Time Gymnastics TNT Twisters, Marathon Recreation Gymnastics and Gymworld. 2001 marked the year that Leonid Grakovsky retired At the 2001 Canadian Championships in New Brunswick the medal count of our
from a lengthy and distinguished career. Leonid’s coaching
gymnasts was impressive. In the Women’s category Ontario athletes won the gold
career spanned 24 years in Canada and he was awarded with a
medal in 3 of 5 categories and silver in the other two. The Men’s team came back with
Gymnastics Ontario Life Membership.
40 individual medals as well as 2 sets of silver medals for the two team competitions. Once again Dave Sandford agreed to chair the Canadian T & T Championships
The Koop Cup 2001, at the John Basset
to benefit 300 athletes, coaches and judges. The Ontario team accumulated an
Theatre in Toronto, was a rare chance
astounding 36 individual medals and earned 9 of the 12 team competition titles. In
to see high caliber athletes compete in
Individual Trampoline Karen Cockburn earned gold in the senior category. In Double
Rhythmic Gymnastics. It also celebrated
Mini-trampoline Lisa Colusi-Mitruk won the Senior Women and Chris Mitruk
50 years of Evelyn Koop’s involvement
won the Senior Men. In Tumbling Julie Pilon won the Senior Women category.
with Rhythmic Gymnastics in Canada. Several FIG members also attended
The 2001 RG Gymnastics Canadian Individual
including Norbert Beuche, Secretary
Championships were hosted by Etobicoke
General of FIG, Slava Corn, 1ST VP of FIG
Olympium RG Club and Ritmika RG Club.
and Adrienne Arnold.
The new Senior National Champion, Mary Saunders won 5 gold medals.
Carol-Angela Orchard was the recipient of FIG. honoured Alex Bard, Head coach of
the Government of Ontario Syl Apps Special
Gymnastics Mississauga for his distinguished
Achievement Award.
record in coaching at the world level. Alex was the first coach in Canada to be honoured by the Federation for his work with Women’s gymnastics. Alex has developed athletes going back to the 1984 Olympic Games and continues throughout each successive Olympic Games. 56
2002 There were 192 Full member clubs registered in 2002 with a total
Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs was recognized for her achievements over the past year as
membership of 68,924.
the recipient of a James Worrall Athlete Development Award given out by the Ministry of Sport and Recreation.
Angel Crossman was elected as president. Electronic scoring for competitions came to Ontario with the help of a Trillium The following clubs were welcomed into the Gymnastics
grant and the efforts of Mississauga and Burlington Gym Clubs.
Ontario community: Allstar Gymnastics, Anti Gravity Trampoline, Fergus Elora Gym Club, Fonthill Gymnastics,
In this year, the first official event sanctioned by GCG for Sport Aerobic
Gym Stars Dynamic, Ikandu, Motion Gymnastics, Saltos Gym Centre, Sunset
Gymnastics took place. It was hosted by the GO technical committee and featured
Gymnastics, Tumble Tot & Tornados.
athletes from four different provinces.
The Pacific Alliance Championships were held in Vancouver,
The Burlington Gymnastics Club
B.C. The highlight of the competition for Ontario was the bronze
hosted the International Invitational
medal winning performance of Heather Purnell on floor.
Burlington Spring Cup. For the first time, Sports Aerobic athletes
The 2002 Canadian Championships took place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Danielle Hicks earned the gold All-Around and Heather Purnell earned
participated in this event with athletes from Canada and Britain.
silver All-Around. This was the first year that Aesthetic Group
Nicki Chretien Mills earned the Government of
Gymnastics (AGG) was developed with a small
Ontario Syl Apps Special Achievement in Sport Award.
group of coaches, judges and volunteers. It was officially adopted as a program of Rhythmic Gymnastics. Some of the key contributors were Maija Ceming, Evelyn Koop, Annely Riga, Marta Selmeczi, Joanne McGarry and Paula Preston. At the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England the Canadian team earned the bronze medal - Ontario athletes were Danielle Hicks and Heather Purnell who finished in the top eight All-Around. 57
2003 There were 188 full member clubs with a total of 73,072 members. This year
The Rhythmic Individual National Championships were hosted by the Ontario RG
marked the 35th anniversary of GO and it was celebrated at Geneva Park the site of
technical committee in Toronto during the SARS challenges in the city. The top
the original AGM.
two seniors at the event were Alexandra Orlando and Carly Orava.
The main focus of the Women’s Program Committee this year was the successful
Melanie Banville earned the All-Around gold at the Jurassic Classic in Calgary and
implementation of the new Canadian Provincial Program (Canada-wide provincial
Lydia Williams was the All-around Champion at Gymnix International in Montreal.
rules) and the development of a new Provincial qualifying system. At the Canada Winter Games in Bathurst, NB, Stefanie Carew won 5 gold medals All of Canada watched four Ontario athletes (Melanie Banville, Heather Purnell,
including the All-Around in Rhythmics.
Lydia Williams and Richelle Simpson) who represented Canada at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, and the World Championship in Anaheim,
Over 150 Ontario athletes from 6 different clubs participated in the 12th World
California. The girls earned a team silver medal at the Pan Am’s and an 11th place
Gymnaestrada held in Lisbon,
finish at the World Championship, thereby guaranteeing Canada a berth in the 2004
Portugal. There were over 22,000
Olympic Games in Athens.
participants from 55 different countries.
At the 2003 Canadian Championships in Saskatoon, the Men’s team earned 46% of the medals available. Shari DeHoey became the first female National II judge
Since 1996 Liz and Dave Brubaker
in Men’s Artistic in Canada. In Trampoline and Tumbling Karen Cockburn and
have hosted the Bluewater International
Mathieu Turgeon won the Senior National titles. The SynchroTeam of Karen
Invitational in Sarnia, Ontario.
Cockburn and Heather McManus earned the top spot at the Senior National level. Emily Smith earned gold in the Senior National Tumbling category along with her
This year the senior women from Ontario excelled in many apparatus finals. Elyse
team mate Denis Vachon for the men’s category. Melanie Banville earned
Hopfner-Hibbs earned the gold on uneven bars.
several event gold medals and silver all-around.
The Ontario Coach of the Year - Provincial award went
Aerobic Gymnastics and
to Tobie Gorman from Ottawa
National Championships
Gymnastics Club.
took place in Brantford.
58
Sandra McDonald won the
Teresa Orr from Sport Seneca earned the Government
Senior Women’s category.
of Ontario Syl Apps Special Achievement in Sport Award.
2004 Gymnastics Ontario clubs continued to grow and develop to 194 clubs and 77,594
Ontario played host to the Trampoline and Tumbling National Championships at
members. New member clubs include Just Bounce Trampoline, Revolution,
Humber College (organized by Dave Sandford) and the Artistic Championships
Tristar Gymnastics, Gym Dandy, Kids Supergym, and City of Timmins Gym Club.
at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga (co-chaired by Holly Abraham and Gene Sutton). Over 700 athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers from across Canada participated in the event.
Tamara Bompa received the Government of Ontario Syl Apps Special Achievement in Sport Award
Ontario once again proved victorious at Canadian Championships, held in Mississauga, in many of the Senior level events. In Tumbling and Double MiniTrampoline, Denis Vachon earned the gold medal. In Trampoline the top three awards went to Ontario athletes. The individual trampoline winners were Karen Cockburn and Mathieu Turgeon.
Dave Ross, Mathieu Turgeon, Karen Cockburn, Heather Ross-McManus
Humber College introduced a Gymnastics Coaching Diploma Program to assist with the need for qualified coaches in the province. The 2004 Ontario Winter Games in London featured performances from 175
Karen Cockburn repeated as a medallist by earning a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games on Trampoline. Heather Ross McManus had an
athletes supported by 70 coaches and 60 judges. The theme for the event was the Olympic Games in Athens.
excellent achievement placing 6th on trampoline. Thirty-five dedicated International coaches, from 12 nations, attended the 2004 Federation Internationale de Gymnastique’s (FIG) Sport Aerobics Coaching
Melanie Banville and Heather Purnell (coaches Lori Ierullo and Tobie Gorman)
Course held in Burlington. The course was organized by Holly Abraham and hosted at Burlington Gymnastics Club through Diane Durette.
Karen Cockburn used her success in support of The
assisted the Canadian
Make-A-Wish Foundation as she made a special guest
team to a top 10 finish.
appearance at a large fundraiser at Gymnastics Mississauga.
59
2005 Gymnastics Ontario became the first sport organization in the country to be
Karen Cockburn and Rosannagh MacLennan, partners in Women’s
accredited with ISO 9001-2000 certification in January 2005. This enabled the
Synchronized Trampoline earned a silver
Federation to receive recognition for meeting international quality standards on
medal at the 2005 World Championships.
There were 197 registered clubs with 82,556 individual registered members.
processes and efficiencies in the organization. Gymnastics Ontario expanded the Fifty eight clubs participated in I Love Gymnastics Week - the largest number of clubs ever in this one week event to promote the sport of gymnastics.
apprentice program for coaches to attend the Canadian Championships alongside a mentor coach. At Canadian National Championships in artistic, the men captured the Argo and Junior National titles.
The first Recreation Director’s Forum provided an opportunity for Recreation
The Gymnastics Ontario Men’s Tour that went to the Jurassic Classic returned
Directors to come together and learn from each other, and discuss issues of
triumphant after winning 46 medals and came in first in the team competition. At
common concern.
Eastern Canadians in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island the Ontario team took the team gold in each of the four categories.
Melanie Banville was crowned the Senior National Champion in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics at the Canadian
Louise Miller, of Perth Athletic Centre obtained her Level 1 accreditation at the
Championships in Vancouver, BC.
first FIG Level 1 Academy for Aerobic Gymnastics hosted in France.
At the Senior Pan American Championships in Brazil,
In Artistic Gymnastics, Carol-Angela Orchard,
Carly Orava earned 4th place and the Canadian Sr. Group earned a silver medal in Rhythmic gymnastics.
Elena Davydova and Kelly Manjack completed the first FIG Brevet Coaching Academy in Tokyo all with outstanding honours.
Denis Vachon successfully lead the Canadian team to a Gold medal in Men’s Double Mini-Trampoline.
In other areas of sport, Gene Sutton was recognized by the Canadian Association for the Advancement
The amalgamation of the Canadian Rhythmic Sportive Gymnastics Federation with GCG had its inaugural year
of Women in Sport (CAAWS) as the most influential woman in sport for her work in gymnastics at all levels of the sport.
in the 2005 season. Ontario hosted the 2005 Canadian Individual Rhythmic Championships at McMaster University in Hamilton. The
Dave Lockington was awarded the Government of Ontario Syl Apps Special
first year of the 2 year pilot program for Rhythmic Interclub Individual and Group
Achievement Award.
Program was successfully launched. Evelyn Koop was named as the first recipient of the newly named “Evelyn Koop Rhythmic Gymnastics Program Award”.
Holly Abraham was recognized by FIG for her significant contribution to Aerobic Gymnastics.
60
2006 Gymnastics Ontario had a total of 195 clubs and an astounding 90,916 individual registrations. Gym World London registered 2,875 members – the largest in the Federation. 17-year-old Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs of Toronto won the Senior National Championship title in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics at the Canadian Championships, held in Quebec City. Then she went on to earn an unprecedented bronze medal on beam at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in October 2006. This was the first medal ever won by a Canadian woman at a FIG World Championships. GO hosted 5 different disciplines of gymnastics at the 2006 Eastern Canadians in one location in Hamilton - McMaster University and Morgan Firestone Sportsplex in Ancaster. This was one of the largest gymnastics events in Canada in 2006 with over 700 athletes and 300 coaches, officials and volunteers. In Melbourne, Australia Alexandra Orlando set an all time Commonwealth Games record of six gold medals and had the honour of being the Canadian flag bearer for the Closing Ceremonies. Carly Orava won a gold medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in the Rhythmic Gymnastics team event. Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs won a gold medal on the bars and beam events with a silver medal in the All-Around competition.
Alyssa Brown won a silver medal on vault at this same event. Canadian Aerobic Gymnastics Champion Emily Ryan from Lombardy, was crowned again in the FIG Open Women category. The Perth Athletic Centre continues to dominate Aerobics in Ontario. Emily also represented Canada for the first time at the World Championships in Nanjing, China.
For the first time ever, the Junior Pan American Games took place in Canada. The Rhythmic events took place at Sport Seneca (thanks to Slava Corn and Teresa Orr) and the Artistic events in Hull, Quebec. Team Canada RG Group earned the Gold All-Around medal.
Holly Abraham earned the Government of Ontario Syl Apps Special Achievement in Sport Award. In Trampoline, Karen Cockburn continued her world domination by winning 5 World Cup medals plus 4 medals with Rosannagh MacLennan as her Synchronized Trampoline partner. Jason Burnett broke the World difficulty record in Trampoline at the World Cup event in Lake Placid by competing with a 17.5 difficulty score. Slava Corn was recognized by CAAWS, as the most influential woman in Canadian sport. GO created new technical positions to develop the sport, by hiring three Provincial Technical Advisors: Dave Arnold, Tobie Gorman and Teresa Orr.
GO formed a partnership with Ontario Special Olympics for the inclusion of Rhythmic Gymnastics as a sport discipline. These athletes will now have access to the programs and services of GO. The Canada Winter Games Coaching Apprentice Scholarship was awarded to gymnastics coach Ellie Hindel from Woodbridge. This was the first time a gymnastics coach received this opportunity. 61
2007 Gymnastics Ontario had a total of 195 clubs and 88,000 individual registrations
Alexandra Orlando became the Senior champion for Rhythmic Gymnastics for the 6th
Trampolinist Karen Cockburn of Toronto earned five
time. She also earned 3 gold medals at Pan Am
World Cup medals. Cockburn and MacLennan
Games in Rio de Janeiro and was the flag bearer for
added another four in the synchro event.
the Closing Ceremonies.
Trampoline entered the Pan Am Games for the first time. Karen won gold and Rosannagh won silver in
Denis Vachon from
Women’s Trampoline. Jason Burnett earned silver in
the Burlington B.G’s won
Men’s competition.
a silver medal in Double Mini Trampoline at the
Talisman Resort and Conference Centre became
World Championships in Quebec City.
the first Platinum sponsor of Gymnastics Ontario, providing both funding and discounts to our
Other medalists at Worlds were Karen Cockburn,
members for skiing, golfing and other great family year-round activities.
and Rosannagh MacLennan, silver in Synchro and
14 gymnasts received funding from a new program called Quest for Gold, created
Rosannagh, bronze on trampoline. Sarah Charles won
by the Ministry of Health Promotion to financially assist Ontario athletes in their
gold in Double Mini Trampoline.
pursuit of excellence. This year over 55,000 teachers across the Province The first edition of GymJam Magazine was launched,
received the gymnastics Daily Physical Activity task cards
produced and distributed to individual members.
and had their students participate in gymnastics in the month of February.
At National Championships in Regina all the disciplines competed under one roof. Kristina
At the Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse, NWT the
Vaculik was crowned Canadian Senior Champion in
men’s and women’s teams earned the bronze medals.
Women’s Artistic. Ontario captured the team gold in
Dominique Pegg from Bluewater captured the gold
both the Novice and Open division. The Men’s High
medal in the A.A.
Performance team took the All-Around award for the second year in a row.
A formal partnership was formed between Special Olympics Ontario and GO to formalize a relationship that has been building for years. GO assisted National Team athletes from across Canada in preparation for World Championships in China, 2007.
62
2008 After 20 years at 1220 Shepherd Avenue, Gymnastics Ontario moved to its 5th
Alexandra Orlando qualified for
home, 3 Concorde Place.
the Beijing Olympics by virtue of her stellar place at the 2007
Alexandra Martincek of Newmarket, Ont.,
World Championships.
earned her first career Senior High Performance AllAround title at the Canadian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships at the Centre Pierre-Charbonneau.
Jaylan Birl (coached by Chris Foo) of Mississauga returned from Germany with a silver medal.
Trampoline Olympians Jason Burnett, Rosannagh MacLennan and Karen Cockburn
Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs won the All-Around at the National Championships. Technical Committee Chair and National Judge, Gail
Whittemore was honored with the Syl Apps Special
Three trampoline athletes, Jason
Burnett, Rosannagh MacLennan and
Karen Cockburn and their coach, Dave Ross, were named to the Olympic
Achievement Award for her work with our RG Special
team. After a thrilling final event, both Karen and
Olympians. It is no coincidence that 3 of the 5 athletes
Jason earned silver medals. Karen became the most
representing Canada at the 2007 Special Olympics World Games in China were
decorated Olympian in Gymnastics history and one of
from Ontario - Gail has played a pivotal role in training and educating Ontario’s
only 4 athletes in Canada to earn three medals in three
S.O. coaches and judges over the past
consecutive Olympics. Karen was Canada’s flag bearer at
several years.
the Closing ceremonies. Rosannagh finished 7th with an impressive performance in the finals of her first Olympics.
Elyse-Hopfner-Hibbs and Alyssa Brown (coaches Carol-Angela
At 2008 Ontario Sports Awards, David Ross was awarded Male Coach of the Year
Orchard and Alex Bard) headed to
and Karen Cockburn was awarded Female Athlete of the Year.
Beijing in August.
63
2009 Thunder Bay and Mississauga celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2009. With 20 years of coaching experience, 15 years in
Photo Thunder Bay coming.
government and two years on the GO Board,
Linda Clifford was elected president.
Ottawa Gym Club plans for their 50th anniversary in 2010.
Highlights of 2009 include: • Three Ontario clubs being named Clubs of Excellence by GCG:
Gemini - 7th year in a row
Mississauga - 6th year
Provincial athletes in all disciplines headed to Ontario at the end of May as
Bluewater - 4th time
Ontario played host to …… athletes,…… coaches and ……. judges at McMaster
• Slava Corn was named as one of the most Influential Women in Sport in Canada for the second time (previous year was 2006). Previous winners include Dr. Gene Sutton (2003) and Carol Anne Letheren (2000).
University thanks to the leadership of Holly Abraham and Kellie Hinnells along with their committee Chairs, Sheila Heppell, Angel Crossman, Barb Dring, Kim Ouellette, Annette Allan and Gene Sutton.
• Karen Cockburn was named Ontario’s female Athlete of the Year. Dave Ross was
Gerhardt Griebenow received the Ontario Government
named Ontario’s male Coach of the year.
Syl Apps Award for his volunteer service since 1974. The first ever Ontario Cup for women was hosted by Twisters in Orangeville and by Quantum of Niagara Falls. This new competition served as a “semi final” prior to the
Provincial championships in Windsor. Just Bounce, Kalev and Mississauga also hosted provincial championships.
64
National champions may need to be listed with or without photos. Anticipate 3 as the working number.
OGF/GO Special Achievement
GovernmentWinners
OGF/GO Life Members
Liz Armitage
John Nooney
Holly Abraham
Patricia Leith
Liz Armitage
Robin McLeod
Lilian Babineau
Carol -Angela Orchard
Liz Armitage
Dave Lockington
Alex Bard
Brian McVey
Tamara Bompa
Teresa Orr
Tamara Bompa
Brian McVey
David Arnold
Masaaki Naosaki
Ed Brougham
Geoff Palmer
Ed Brougham
Mary Nichol
Lilian Babineau
Mary Nichol
Phillip Bruce
Mary-Lea Palmer
Margo Bulmar
John Nooney
Alex Bard
John Nooney
Margo Bulmar
Rosemary Redgrift
Maija Ceming
Carol-Angela Orchard
Tamara Bompa
Carol-Angela Orchard
Janet Campbell
Bill Rhoads
Nicki Chretian-Ranney
Teresa Orr
Ed Brougham
Teresa Orr
Slava Corn
David A Ross
Slava Corn
Marilyn Savage
Margo Bulmar
Geoff Palmer
Jennifer Diachun
Sue Rowan
Angel Crossman
Rhoda Silzer
Janet Campbell
Mary Lea Palmer
Diane Gallagher
David Sandford
Kaarina Dillabough
Gene Sutton
Maija Ceming
Paul Pichler
Jay Goold
Elfi Schlegel
Horst Galle
Lenke Szathmary
Slava Corn
David Ross
Claudia Griebenow
Rhoda Silzer
Gerhardt Griebenow
Colin Wackett
George Curran
Marilyn Savage
Susan Harris
Gene Sutton
Susan Harris
Jan Waldauf
Liliana Dimitrova-Petkov
Elfi Schlegel
Janis Hric
Lenke Szathmary
Janis Hric
John Wilken
Albert Dippong
Marta Selmeczi
John Hunter
Colin Wackett
John Hunter
Linda Whitfield
Horst Galle
Gene Sutton
Dick Hutchison
Jan Waldauf
Richard Kihn
Gail Whittemore
Tobie Gorman
Lenke Szathmary
Lois Laquerre
Linda Whitfield
Lester Wood
Leonid Grakovsky
Paul Tomlinson
Brian McVey
Lester Wood
Tom Zivic
Susan Harris
Debbie Vidmar
Judy Henderson
Colin Wackett
Curtis Hibbert
Jan Waldauf
John Hunter
Fay Weiler
Frank Juhasz
Wilhelm Weiler
Richard Kihn
Linda Whitfield
Tom Kinsman
Tom Zivic
Mary Nichol
Evelyn Koop Lois Laquerre
65
Ontario’s Olympic and World Championship Medalists John Ross
1982 Worlds
trampoline
bronze
(coach Dave Ross) Curtis Hibbert
1987 Worlds
(coaches Masaaki Naosaki, 1992 Worlds
Rosannagh MacLeannan
2005 Worlds
synchro tramp
silver
high bar
silver
(coach Dave Ross)
2007 Worlds
synchro tramp
gold
vault
bronze
2007 Worlds
trampoline
bronze
Sarah Charles
2005 Worlds
double mini
gold
(coach Bill Perkins)
2007 Worlds
double mini
gold
Tom Zivic) Chris Mitruk
1996 Worlds
double mini
gold
(coach Bill Perkins)
1996 Worlds
team
gold
1998 Worlds
double mini
bronze
Lisa Colussi
1996 Worlds
double mini
silver
1998 Worlds
trampoline
silver
(coach Bill Perkins)
1999 Worlds
double mini
gold
1999 Worlds
double mini
gold
1999 Worlds
double mini team bronze
Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs
1999 Worlds
trampoline team bronze
(coach Carol-Angela Orchard)
Karen Cockburn
2000 Olympics
trampoline
bronze
Denis Vachon
(coach Dave Ross)
2004 Olympics
trampoline
silver
(coach Bill Perkins)
2005 Worlds
synchro tramp
silver
2007 Worlds
synchro tramp
gold
Jason Burnett
2008 Olympics
trampoline
silver
(coach Dave Ross)
Mathieu Turgeon
2000 Olympics
trampoline
bronze
(coach Dave Ross)
66
2006 Worlds
balance beam
bronze
2007 Worlds
double mini
silver
2008 Olympics
trampoline
silver
Ontario Olympians - Athletes (artistic women, men, rhythmic (since 1984), trampoline (since 2000)), coaches and judges 1956 Melbourne, Australia Ed Gagnier, Ernestine Russell Coach: Bernard Newman 1960 Rome, Italy Ernestine Russell Coach: Bernard Newman 1964 Tokyo, Japan - Richard Kihn, Wilhelm Weiler 1968
Mexico City, Mexico - Marilyn Minaker, Jennifer Diachun, Teresa McDonnell, Barry Brooker, Steve Mitruk Coaches: Marilyn Savage, Willy Weiler Judges: Fay Weiler, Horst Galle
1972
Munich, Germany Susan Buchanan, Jennifer Diachun, Sharon Tsukamoto, Teresa McDonnell, Nancy McDonnell, Lise Arsenault, Steve Mitruk, Bruce Medd Coaches: Marilyn Savage, Barry Brooker Judges: Fay Weiler
1976
Montreal Canada Teresa McDonnell, Nancy McDonnell, Lise Arsenault, Patti Rope, Lynne Jones Coach: Maria Folprecht Judges: Carol Anne Letheren, Fay Weiler, Horst Galle
1980 1984
Moscow, USSR (boycotted) Ellen Stewart, Kathy McMorrow, Sherry Hawco, Elfi Schlegel, Linda Bartolini, Danny Gaudet, Frank Nutzenberger, David Steeper, Marc Epprecht, Nigel Rothwell Coaches: Mary Lea Palmer, Tom Zivic
1988
Seoul, Korea Monica Covacci, Larissa Lowing, Christina McDonald, Janine Rankin, Lori Strong, Brad Peters, Lorne Bobkin, Curtis Hibbert, Alan Nolet, Mary Fuzesi Coaches: Mary-Lea Palmer, Leonid Grakovsky, David Arnold, Masaaki Naosaki, Liliana Dimitrova Judges: Tamara Bompa, Mary Gould
1992
Barcelona, Spain Janet Morin, Janine Rankin, Stella Umeh, Lori Strong, Curtis Hibbert, Mike Inglis, Alan Nolet, Madonna Gimotea Coaches: Alex Bard, Debbie Vidmar, Liliana Dimitrova, Massaki Naosaki Judges: Robin McLeod, Tamara Bompa
Los Angeles, USA Kelly Brown, Andrea Thomas, Andrea Owoc, Jessica Tudos, Brad Peters, Frank Nutzenberger, Allan Reddon, Danny Gaudet, Adrianne Dunnett Coaches: Mary-Lea Palmer, Liliana Dimitrova, Tom Zivic, Leonid Grakovsky Judges: Carol Anne Letheren, Mary Gould, Eugene Oryszczyn, Tamara Bompa
1996
Atlanta, USA Jennifer Exaltacion, Shanyn MacEachern, Yvonne Tousek, Alan Nolet, Kris Burley Camille Martens Coaches: Elvira Saadi, David Arnold, Ludmilla Dimitrova,
2000
Sydney, Australia Michelle Conway, Crystal Gilmore, Yvonne Tousek, Emilie Livingston Karen Cockburn, Mathieu Turgeon Coaches: Carol-Angela Orchard, Elvira Saadi, Dave Ross, Lucy Dimitrova Judges: Susan Harris, Tamara Bompa
2004
Athens, Greece Melanie Banville, Heather Purnell Karen Cockburn, Heather Ross-McManus, Mathieu Turgeon Coaches: Tobie Gorman, Dave Ross, Judge: Tamara Bompa,
2008
Beijing, China Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs, Alyssa Brown, Alexandra Orlando, Karen Cockburn, Rosannagh MacLennan, Jason Burnett Coaches: Mimi Masleva, Dave Ross
67
Ontario Gymnasts on World teams (Artistic, Trampoline, Tumbling, Rhythmics)
68
1959
Ernestine Russell
1980
John Ross, Alison Pester
1962
Maureen McDonald, Cal Girard
1981
Sara Aggiss, Leanne Gallant, Elfi Schlegel, Kelly Brown, Danny Gaudet,
1966
Marilyn Minaker, Rick Kinsman, Barry Brooker, Wilhelm Weiler
Nigel Rothwell, Brad Peters, Allan Reddon, Frank Nutzenberger
1968
Wayne King, Rick Kinsmen
1970
Susan Buchanan, Jennifer Diachun, Teresa McDonnell,
Nancy McDonnell, Lise Arsenault, Patti Rope, Steve Mitruk
1972
Rusty Pierce, Peter Rogers
1973
Shirley Lehtinen
1974
1982 John Ross (bronze), Bill Spurrell, Alison Pester 1983
Leanne Gallant, Elfi Schlegel, Andrea Thomas, Andrea Owoc,
Christina McDonald, Leslie Gould, Janice Kerr, Danny Gaudet,
Frank Nutzenberger, Allan Reddon, Brad Peters, Adrianne Dunnett
1984
John Ross
1985
Andrea Thomas, Andrea Owoc, Christina McDonald, Sasha Ivanochko,
Jennifer Diachun, Teresa McDonnell, Nancy McDonnell, Patti Rope,
Frank Nutzenberger, Allan Reddon, Brad Peters, Lorne Bobkin,
Mona Johnson, Suzanne MacIssac, Lise Arsenault, Sharon Tsukamoto,
Curtis Hibbert, Adrienne Mark
Steve Mitruk, Bruce Medd, Harry Wells
1986
Sean McManus, Ron Masotti, Sean Stamm
1975
Shirley Lehtinen
1987
Christina McDonald, Alexandra Borowick, Monica Covacci, Larissa Lowing,
1976
Harry Wells, Rusty Pierce, Richard Cleland, Tom Greene
Janine Rankin, Brad Peters, Lorne Bobkin, Curtis Hibbert, Mike Inglis,
1977
Shirley Lehtinen
Alan Nolet
1978
Karen Goold, Diana Carnegie, Sherry Hawco, Elfi Schlegel,
Frank Nutzenberger, Danny Gaudet, Nigel Rothwell, Tom Greene,
Rick Cleland, Alison Pester
1979
Ellen Stewart, Diana Carnegie, Elfi Schlegel, Kathy McMorrow,
Shannon Fleming, Marc Epprecht, Danny Gaudet, Frank Nutzenberger,
Nigel Rothwell
1988 Bill Perkins, Lorne Singer, J.P. Aucoin, Paul Cameron, Ron Masotti,
Sean McManus, Franny Jewett, Anna Geller, Heather Ross
1989
Monica Covacci, Larissa Lowing, Leah Homma, Janine Rankin,
Koyuki Oka, Seymen Lau, Curtis Hibbert, Scott MacDonald, Alan Nolet,
Lorne Bobkin, Madonna Gimotea, Mary Fuzesi
1990
J.P. Aucoin, Paul Cameron, Chris Mitruk, Trevor Nassler, Franny Jewett,
Heather Ross, Lisa Colussi, Michael Rosenberger
1991
Janine Rankin, Koyuki Oka, Sarah Rainey, Stella Umeh, Lori Strong,
1999
Yvonne Tousek, Michelle Conway, Erika Leigh-Stirton,
Sarah Markell, Janet Morin, Jackie Bender, Shaun Jaikaran,
Emilie Livingston (gold AA), Chris Mitruk (DMT-gold), Ben Snape,
Curtis Hibbert, Scott MacDonald, Jean-Paul Kraemer, Mike Inglis,
Mathieu Turgeon, Ryan Lyons, Neisha Davis, Cassie Shirley,
Alan Nolet, Rob Doyle, Mary Fuzesi
Jennifer Stone, Karen Cockburn, Lydia Zanon,
1992
Lori Strong, Stella Umeh, Leah Homma, Curtis Hibbert, Mike Inglis,
Lisa Colussi-Mitruk (DMT-gold), Cheryl Johnson, Teresa Mikola
Alan Nolet, Rob Doyle, Madonna Gimotea, J.P. Aucoin, Paul Cameron,
2001
Crystal Gilmore, Ashley Peckett, Joelle Ouellette, Jennifer Simbhudas,
Chris Mitruk, Michael Rosenberger, Justin Osbourne, Jeffrey Gallant,
Chris Mitruk, Marty Myers, Ben Snape, Paul Cameron, Dave Parke,
Meghan Cox, Franny Jewett, Heather Ross, Lisa Colussi, Tammy Thrasher
Karen Cockburn, Heather McManus, Brenna Casey, Lydia Zanon,
1993
Stella Umeh, Stacey Galloway, Curtis Hibbert, Madonna Gimotea
Lisa Colussi-Mitruk, Cheryl Johnson, Cassandra Siwek, Julie Pilon,
Neisha Davis, Janice Creighton, Ryan Lyons
1994
Stacey Galloway, Jennifer Exaltacion, Lena Degteva, Jaime Hill,
Theresa Wolf, Jason Hardabura, Alan Nolet, Jason Papp, Travis Romagnoli,
2002
Ashley Peckett
Peter Schmidt, Darren Bersuk, Jean-Paul Aucoin, Paul Cameron,
2003
Heather Purnell, Melanie Banville, Richelle Simpson, Chris Mitruk,
Angelo Despotas, Karen Cockburn, Megan Cox, Franny Jewett,
Mathieu Turgeon, Jason Burnett, Karen Cockburn, Heather McManus,
Lydia Zanon, Lisa Colussi, Kris Smeelen, Tammy Thrasher
Brenna Casey, Savija McManus, Denis Vachon, Neisha Davis,
1995
Yvonne Tousek, Jaime Hill, Jennifer Exaltacion, Shanyn MacEachern,
Emily Smith
Lena Degteva, Theresa Wolf, Stephanie Cappuccitti, Jason Hardabura,
2005 Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs, Mathieu Turgeon, Denis Vachon, Jason Burnett,
Alan Nolet, Jason Papp, Travis Romagnoli, Peter Schmidt,
Chris Donaldson, Karen Cockburn, Rosannagh MacLennan,
Erika Leigh-Stirton
Sarah Charles, Brenna Casey
1996
Yvonne Tousek, Jennifer Exaltacion, Shanyn MacEachern, Alan Nolet,
2006
Alyssa Brown, Marci Bernholtz, Elyse Hopfner- Hibbs, Brittnee Habbib
Chris Burley, Rob Doyle, Lorne Bobkin, Chris Mitruk (DMT-G),
Lisa Colussi (DMT-silver), J.P. Aucoin, Paul Cameron, Franny Jewett,
2007
Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs (beam – bronze), Alyssa Brown, Marci Bernholtz,
Meghan Cox, Lydia Zanon
Rebecca Simbhudas, Kristina Vaculik, Casey Sandy, Alexandra Orlando,
Stefanie Carew, Alexandra Martincek, Marty Myers, Kevin Perkins,
1997
Katie Rowland, Shanyn MacEachern, Sarah Deegan, Yvonne Tousek,
Denis Vachon (DMT-silver), Jason Burnett, Philip Barbaro,
Natalie Barrington, Travis Romagnoli, Peter Schmidt, Roshan Amendra,
Karen Cockburn (synchro-gold), Rosannagh MacLennan (tramp-bronze,
Jason Papp, Erika Leigh- Stirton, Julia Lombra
synchro-gold), Sarah Charles (DMT-gold), Emily Smith, Ashley Speed,
1998
Peter Schmidt, Chris Mitruk (DMT-bronze), Ben Snape, Mathieu Turgeon,
Jenna Stamp
Karen Cockburn, Heather McManus, Lydia Zanon, Lisa Colussi,
Cheryl Johnson, Iyawa Gardner, Julie Hurst 69
Ontario Gymnasts on Pan American teams (MWR) - Athletes (artistic women, men, rhythmic, trampoline (2007), coaches and judges
70
1959
Chicago, USA Ernestine Russell, Nino Marion, Calvin Girard, Leissa Krol, Marie-Claire Larsen, Rosemary Ripley Coach: Bernard Newman
1963
San Palo, Brazil Susan McDonnell, Leissa Krol, Irene Haworth, Nino Marion, Wilhelm Weiler Judge: Fay Weiler
1967
Winnipeg, Canada Susan McDonnell, Marilyn Minaker, Barbara Thompson, Rick Kinsman, Barry Brooker, Calvin Girard Coaches: Marilyn Savage, Wilhelm Weiler Judges: Fay Weiler
1971
Cali, Columbia Jennifer Diachun, Teresa McDonnell, Nancy McDonnell, Lise Arsenault, Steve Mitruk Coaches: Marilyn Savage, Barry Brooker Judges: Fay Weiler, John Tutte, Albert Dippong, Wilhelm Weiler
1975
Mexico City, Mexico Margot Parmalee, Nigel Rothwell, Bob Carisse Judges: Carol Anne Letheren, Lenke Szathmary, Mary Gould, Valerie Nye, Eugene Orzszczyn, Albert Dippong
1979
San Juan, Puerto Rico Ellen Stewart, Diana Carnegie, Shannon Fleming, Sherry Hawco, Elfi Schlegel, Nigel Rothwell, Marc Epprecht Coaches: Mary-Lea Palmer, Masaaki Naosaki Judges: Carol Anne Letheren, Mary Gould, Valerie Nye, Fay Weiler
1983
Caracas, Venezuela Curtis Hibbert, David Arnold Coach: Tom Zivic Judges: Carol Anne Letheren
1987
Indianapolis, USA Ildiko Hattayer, Theresa MacKenzie, Andrea Conway, Frank Nutzenberger, Brad Peters, Shaun Jaikaran, Alan Nolet, Chuck Basler, Mary Fuzesi, Coaches: David Arnold, Eugene Galperin Judges: Susan Harris, Valerie Nye, Carol Anne Letheren, Fay Weiler
1991
Havana, Cuba Colleen Johnson, Stacey Galloway, Tara Sherwood, Darren Bersuk, Jason Papp, Travis Romagnoli, Carey Vigneux, Madonna Gimotea, Mary Fuzesi, Colleen McDermott, Alyssa Pearce, Agnes Quitlard, Heather Brock, Jennifer Clark
1995
Mar del Plata, Argentina Natalie Barrington, Lena Degteva, Shanyn MacEachern , Jennifer Exaltacion, Jaime Hill, Theresa Wolf, Jason Hardabura, Jason Papp, Travis Romagnoli, Peter Schmidt, Alan Nolet, Erin Burkett, Madonna Gimotea, Leela Hemmings, Simone Lazor, Valerie Nodelli, Kathy Traitsis Coaches: Alex Bard, Svetlana Degteva, Bob Carisse, Leonid Grakowsky, Carlo Pacella, David Arnold, Liliana Dimitrova Judge: Susan Harris, Danny Gaudet
1999
Winnipeg, Canada Yvonne Tousek, Michelle Conway, Rochan Amendra, Peter Schmidt, Jason Papp, Emilie Livingstone, Erika-Leigh Stirton Coaches: Elvira Saadi, David Arnold, Danuta Smiechowski Judges: Fay Weiler, Lois Laquerre, Susan Harris, Tamara Bompa, Evelyn Koop
2003
Santo Domingo, Dom Republic Melanie Banville, Richelle Simpson, Alexandra Orlando, Roxy Cervantes, Ira Funtikova, Pamela Jewell, Emilie Livingston, Sara Stock Coaches: Mimi Masleva
2007
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Christine Lee, Emma Willis, Stefanie Carew, Alexandra Orlando, Carly Orava, Kathryn DeCata, Suzanne Lendvay, Monika Lechowitz, Karen Cockburn, Rosannagh MacLennan, Jason Burnett Coaches: Mimi Masleva, Carol-Angela Orchard, Dave Ross Judges: Liz Armitage, Lois Laquerre, Tamara Bompa
Ontario Gymnasts on Commonwealth teams - Athletes (artistic women, men, rhythmic), coaches and judges 1978 Edmonton, Canada
1994 Victoria, Canada
Elfi Schlegel(Gold AA), Sherry Hawco,
Stella Umeh (Gold AA), Stacey Galloway,
Nigel Rothwell,
Jaime Hill, Lisa Simes, Alan Nolet,
Coach: Benita Rope
Travis Romagnoli, Peter Schmidt,
Judges: Lenke Szathmary, Robin McLeod,
Rob Doyle, Camille Martens, Lindsay Richards,
Mary Gould, Carol Anne Letheren, Fay Weiler,
Gretchen McLennan
Eugene Oryschyn, Horst Galle,
Coaches: David Arnold, Alex Bard, Bob Carisse
Albert Dippong, Bill Hubbard
Judges: Susan Harris, Fay Weiler, Mary Nichol,
Bill Hubbard
1982 Brisbane, Australia
Danny Gaudet (Gold AA), Frank Nutzenberger
1998 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Andrea Thomas, Leanne Gallant,
Katie Rowland, Crystal Gilmore,
Coaches: Mary Lea Palmer, Masaaki Naosaki
Peter Schmidt, Erica-Leigh Stirton (Gold AA),
Judges: Carol Anne Letheren,
Emilie Livingston
Coaches: Elvira Saadi, David Arnold,
1986 Edinburgh, Scotland
Danuta Smiechowski
Stacey Patrick, Jocelyn Rathbun,
Judges: Judy Henderson, Fay Weiler,
Andrea Owoc, Monica Covacci, Allan Reddon,
Susan Harris,
Mike Inglis, Lorne Bobkin
2002 Manchester, England
1990 Auckland, New Zealand
Danielle Hicks, Heather Purnell,
Lori Strong (Gold AA), Monica Covacci,
Vanessa Melcoche, Jennifer Simbhudas
Stella Umeh, Larissa Lowing,
Coach: Elena Davydova
Curtis Hibbert (Gold AA), Alan Nolet,
Lorne Bobkin, Mary Fuzesi, Madonna Gimotea
2006 Melbourne, Australia
Coaches: Leonid Grakovsky, David Arnold,
Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs, Alyssa Brown,
Lynda Thompson
Alexandra Orlando (gold AA), Carly Orava
Judge: Susan Harris
Coaches: Carol-Angela Orchard, Alex Bard,
Mimi Masleva
Judges: Liz Armitage, Lois Laquerre
71
Ontario teams to Canada Games 1967
Quebec City, Quebec Teresa McDonnell (Gold AA), Steve Mitruk ((Gold AA), Jennifer Diachun, Barb Thompson, Susan Buchanan, Mike Zuke, Hardy Fink, Brian McVey
1971
Saskatoon, Saskatewan B. Kocher, Sharon Tsukamoto, Janet Campbell, Wendy Nicholson, David Hunter, Bruce Medd
1975 Lethbridge, Alberta Merrie Ellen Wilcox, Jill Gibson, Sandra Henderson, Bob Carisse, Nigel Rothwell, Scott Weir, David Steeper
72
1991
Charlottetown, PEI Stacey Galloway, Tara Sherwood, Sarah Rainey, Luisa Portocarrero,
Angela Stiles, Bethany Dworkin, Leo Oka, Mark Hudson, Jason Hardabura, Gord Wallace, Robert Doyle, Stephen Bruyea, Darren Bersuk, Lindsay Richards, Jennifer Brenner, Leela Hemmings, Simone Lazor, Kathy Traitsis, Audrey Abosd, Jenni McGuire, Rian Holmes, Kim Cheng Johnson
1995
Grande Praire, Alberta Nicole Myers, Sharene Mamby, Laura Chow, Lori Cellupica, Alison Rudisi, Nicole Wilkinson, Natalie Thomson, Leo Oka, Justin Gerson, Sebastien Fortierm, Benjamin Flemming, Etienne Deneault,
Primoz Cresnik, Jason Dutcher, Valerie Morelli, Erika-Leigh Stirton, Janice Chan, Aja Shimizu
1979
Brandon, Manitoba Melissa Hawrylyshyn, Susie Koval, Melody Musgrave, Leanne Gallant, Diane Cooper, Tamara Sokyrko, Bill Chong, Danny Fedder, Mark Erschen, Doron Kernerman, Brad Peters, Paul Neville
1983
Saquenay-Lac St.Jean, Quebec Andrea Thomas (Gold AA-tie), Curtis Hibbert , (Gold AA), Jessica Tudos, (Gold AA-tie), Andrea Owoc, Janice Kerr, Ildiko Hattyer, Susanne deValk, Alan Nolet, Lorne Bobkin, Shaun Jaikaran, Michael Inglis, Sean McManus
1999
Cornerbrook, Newfoundland Jennifer Simbhudas, Laura McLaren, Tiffany Kwan, Chantelle Tousek, Kristen Coleman, Jennifer Chalebois, Teri Gibson, Kenneth Cox, Martin Monderie, Jeffery Levine, Eric Kafka, Sean Garaghty, Roy Asaria, Jonah Swartz, Kelemoi Tedeneke (AAgold), Irina Funtikova, Jodie Ross, Prus Roxoliana, Lilianne Ngyuen, Heather Wawryko
1987
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Charlotte Pipe, Allison Hiscott, Martha Mesley, Theresa MacKenzie, Debbie Johnstone, Koyuki Oka, Terry Mitruk, Scott MacDonald, Shaun Jaikaran, Ken White, Chuck Basler, George Zivic, Mary Fuzesi, Lynda Thompson, Ivanka Tchakarova, Leanne Cooke, Nicole Deurvorst, Sanya Eng, Tracey Finlay, Lisa Franks, Tracy Hong, Kim Scott, Andrea Williams
2003
Bathurst-Campbellton, N Bk Cara Pomeroy, Julie-Ann Passy, Aimie Baldeian, Melanie Tham, Lori Hamilton, Jennifer Charlebois, Kristen Coleman, Mike Boyd, Luke Boyd, Roshan Chopra, Sean Lord, Scott, Rayment, Matthew Albrecht, Daniel King, Carrington Sparfel (AA gold), Nathalie Ngo, Stefanie Carew , Mina Etemad, Jacquelyn Graham, Monika Lechowicz, Jessica Drzewiecki
2007
Whitehorse, NWT Dominique Pegg (Gold AA), Kaitlyn Au, Shawna Ciaramella, Amanda Fuller, Nicole Heikkila, Carrina Bello, Krishna Yemany, Simon Barbosa, Trevor Eman, Jaroslav Hojka, Matt Lubrick, Kevin Lytwyn, Daniel Mariono, Simon Porter, Gregory Roe
Senior National Champions from Ontario - Artistic (A), Trampoline (T), Double Mini Trampoline (DMT), Tumbling (Tu), Rhythmics( RG) 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1976 1977 1978 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
(A) Ernestine Russell (A) Ernestine Russell (A) Ernestine Russell, Wilhelm Weiler (A) Ernestine Russell, Wilhelm Weiler (A) Ernestine Russell, Richard Kihn (A) Wilhelm Weiler (A) Richard Kihn (A) Wilhelm Weiler (A) Richard Kihn, (T)Rick Kinsman (A) Richard Kihn, (T)Rick Kinsman (T)Rick Kinsman (A) Wilhelm Weiler, (T)Rick Kinsman (A) Susan McDonnell, (T) Rick Kinsman (T) Rick Kinsman (A) Jennifer Diachun, (T) Wayne King (A) Jennifer Diachun (T) Wayne King (A) Jennifer Diachun , Masaaki Naosaki, (T) Wayne King, Bonnie Branson, (RG) Connie Lindenberger (A) Jennifer Diachun, (T) Peter Rogers,(RG)Denise Fujiwara (A) Nancy McDonnell, (T) Peter Rogers, RG)Denise Fujiwara (A) Jennifer Diachun, (T) Alison Pester, (RG) Shirley Lehtinen (A)Patti Rope, (RG) Shirley Lehtinen (T) Tom Green, (RG)Kelly Molligian (A )Elfi Schlegel, (T) Tom Green, Alison Pester, (RG) Kelly Molligian/Jana lazor (T) John Ross,(RG) Jana Lazor (T) John Ross, Alison Pester, (A) Danny Gaudet, (T) John Ross, Alison Pester (A) Danny Gaudet, Mary Lyon, (T) John Ross, Alison Pester (A) Frank Nutzenberger (A) Monica Covacci, (T) Ron Masotti (A) Andrea Owoc, (T) Ron Masotti (A) Monica Covacci, (T) Ron Masotti, Anna Geller (A) Curtis Hibbert, Lori Strong (T) Ron Masotti, Franny Jewett
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
(A) Curtis Hibbert, Lori Strong, (T) Jean-Paul Aucoin, Franny Jewett, (RG), Mary Fuzesi (A) Curtis Hibbert, Larissa Lowing (T) Paul Cameron, (RG) Mary Fuzesi (A) Curtis Hibbert, Janet Morin, (T) Jean-Paul Aucoin, Heather Ross, (RG) Madonna Gimotea (A) Curtis Hibbert, Stella Umeh,(T) Jean-Paul Aucoin, (RG) Madonna Gimotea Curtis Hibbert, Stella Umeh, (T & DMT) Chris Mitruk, (RG) Madonna Gimotea (A) Alan Nolet, Stacey Galloway (A) Lena Degteva, Jennifer Exaltacion, (T) Paul Cameron, Karen Cockburn (A) Lena Degteva, (DMT) Chris Mitruk, Lisa Colussi, (RG) Camille Martens (A) Sarah Deegan, (DMT) Chris Mitruk, Lisa Colussi, (RG)Erica-Leigh Stirton (A) Peter Schmidt, Katie Rowland, (T) Karen Cockburn, (DMT) Chris Mitruk, Cheryl Johnson, (Tu) Julie Hurst, (RG)Erica-Leigh Stirton (T) Karen Cockburn, (DMT) Chris Mitruk, Lisa Colussi, (RG)Erica-Leigh Stirton (A) Yvonne Tousek, (T) Mathieu Turgeon, Karen Cockburn, (DMT) Chris Mitruk, Brenna Casey, (Tu) Janice Creighton, (T) Karen Cockburn, (DMT) Chris Mitruk, Lisa Colussi-Mitruk, (Tu) Julie Pilon, (RG)Mary Saunders (A) Danielle Hicks, (T) Mathieu Turgeon, Karen Cockburn, (Tu) Julie Pilon, (RG) Alexandra Orlando (T) Mathieu Turgeon, Karen Cockburn, (Tu) Denis Vachon, Emily Smith, (RG) Alexandra Orlando (T) Mathieu Turgeon, Karen Cockburn, (DMT, Tu) Denis Vachon, (RG) Alexandra Orlando (A) Melanie Banville, (T) Rosannagh McLennan, (DMT) Sarah Charles, (Tu) Denis Vachon, (RG) Alexandra Orlando (A) Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs, (T) Jason Burnett, Karen Cockburn, (DMT) Rose James, (Tu) Denis Vachon, Emily Smith, (RG) Alexandra Orlando (A) Kristina Vaculik, (T) Jason Burnett, Karen Cockburn, (DMT) Denis Vachon, Sarah Charles, (Tu) Denis Vachon, Emily Smith, (RG) Alexandra Orlando (A) Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs, (T) Jason Burnett, Karen Cockburn, (DMT) Denis Vachon, Erica Hart, (Tu) Alex Seifert, Emily Smith, (RG)Alexandra Martincek 73
Coaches Level 4 Certified Coaches David Arnold Alex Bard Lorne Bobkin Dave Brubaker Elizabeth Brubaker Lisa Cowan Elena Davydova Svetlana Degteva Chris Foo July Gershcovich Leonid Grakovsky Peter Grozdanovic Lawson Hamer Rodney Hounsell Paula Johnson Janice Kern Thomas Kinsman Don Marinacci Brian McVey Carol Angela Orchard Carlo Pacella Walter Quigley Allan Reddon Bill Rhoads David Ross Elvira Saadi Matthew Sparks Michael Toke Deborah Vidmar Carey Vigneux 74
Level 3 Certified Coaches WAG Oksana Aybinder Vilmos Balint Michael Barber Robert Baum Nathalie Begin Nick Bejenaru Robert Bentham Serena Bono-Hutchins Christina Bontas-Tantaru William Boomsluiter Carmen Boucher Jennifer Kershaw Aaron Brokenshire Loan Brumaru Ludita Brumaru Nadia Bruno Caitin Bryan Elizabeth Bureaud Ami Burtinsky Lianne Burtinsky Janet Campbell Ann Marie Cardinal Angela Crlow Allan Claus Pam Collett Glen Cooper Ildiko Coyle Nicole Cretien-Mills Lorraine Currie Claude Dallaire Holly Dawe Shannon Dawe Pavel Degtev Shari Dehoey Andrew Deslippe
Elena Dobrovolsky Olga Dudchenko Rhoda Elsden Romelle Espiritu Ludmila Fedoseeva Maria Folprecht Janice Fowler Tatyana Frolova Marguerite Gagnon Dan Glendon Jenna Gleza Tobie Gorman Andrei Gorodetskii Janice Grant Lenuta Gurlui Mihai Gurlui Christopher Hanley Joanne Hett Kathleen Hubbard Lori Ierullo Ildiko Inglis Valentina Kashkevich Lisa Kilvinen Charlene Knudsen Vladimir Kondratenko Liudmyla Korolenko Jean-Paul Kraemer Yuri Kuznetsov Agnes Laing Jason Laing Jane Langley Jacqueline Large Christopher Laszlo Andrea Lee Sandra Li Laura Liberty Paula Lockwood
Heather Loeffen Brenda Mader Karen Main Susanne Maki Susan Manjak Maria Mikola Teresa Mikola Pamela Mizuno Ruth Moriana Doina Moscu Nick Moscu James Mouland Donald Muir Nancy Muller Arlo Murphy Patricia Norris Irmgard Ohm Christine Omerod Michael Outram Geoff Palmer Mary Lea Palmer John Parker Gordon Pinkney Georgio Poloupanov Kim Poole Merle Pyke Kenneth Rae Kimberly Rae Stephanie Ramsay Jason Rawlings David Reed Marcel Rene Carolyn Robb Sandra Robertson Kimberly Roby Nancy Saari Patty Sayers
Nancy Sherwin Debbie Siemon Stacy Slikboer Anita Small Craig Smith Margaret Smits Nadezhda Sorokataya Alexander Sorokatay Jeff Soroksky Melissa Stedman John Summersides Anatoliy Syedykh Tanya Szpak Gabriel Tantaru Andrew Tantaru Andrew Taylor Kimberlee Thompson Ionel Toma Natalie Turner Stacy Umeh Lees Kathlee VanGraft Maryna Vorobyova Penny Walker Terry Warren Anton Werth Shannon White Robert Wiggins Tracy Wilklemaier Rosemary Wultchyn Tricia Wysynski Valery Yahchybekov Pamela Yeoman Olena Yermolchuk
Level 3 Certified Coaches MAG
Level 3 Certified Coaches T & T
Level 3 Certified Coaches RS
Ontario Brevet Judges
Charles Basler Dean Bridgewater Rob Carisse Kyle Charbonneau Shari Dehoey Colleen Greive-Saunders Christopher Hanley Danny Henry Zhaohui Huang Alfred. W. Hummel Mike Hunter Garfield Isaacs Gregory Jackson Gerald Kasper Doron Kernerman Igor Kourinnyi Jason Lang Gary Legault Pierre Morissette Also Murphy Masaaki Naosaki Merle Pyke Christopher Quait Evgeny Rakita Bill Rhoads Stanislav Sytnik Betty Tate-Pineau Saifelislam Yaaqoubi Valery Yakchybekov Oleksandr Zavadych
Lynn Oshdown Helen Bertolini-Saari Phillip Blake Nadia Bruno Jacinda Clarke John Craig Nick Earle Donald Holmes Cheryl Johnson Jean Juneau Jeffery Marceau Heather McManus Sean McManus Teresa Mikola Sandra Muir Cameron Osborne William Perkins Christopher Quait Kenneth Rae Genevieve Roberts Niki Rowland Karla Sage Allison Tanaka Stacey Turpin
Victoria Apukhtina-Ataol Julia Bendersky Liliana Bozin Jennifer DiBenedetto Liliana Dimitrova Ludmilla Dimitrova Diana Filipova Tsvetomita Filipova Darlyne Henry Xnhong Jin Svetlana Joukova Tatiana Kastsenkava Jolanta Konieczka Evelyn Koop Dagnar Kelli Dimitrichka Masleva Stephanie Mathers Iana Nadtotchii Teresa Orr Inna Paliy Siiri Paul Tatiana Predeina Ginger Richardson Danuta Smiechowski Eva Sokol Borislava Stoyanova Temenouga Stoytcheva Kimberlee Thompson Lynda Thompson Irene Vecera Kathryn Whittemore
WAG
MAG
Joan Arblaster Liz Armitage Julie Arsenault-Howick Cathy Buchner Habiba Chakir Pam Collett Norma Columbus Elena Davydova Mary Gould Susan Harris Judy Henderson Janis Hric Lois Laquerre Carol Anne Letheren Robin McLeod Valerie Nye Maslin Mary Nichol Jennifer Reynolds Rhoda Silzer Gene Sutton Lenke Szathmary Gail Thornton Ruth Uren Fay Weiler
David Arnold Albert Dippong Harry Ducker Horst Galle Danny Gaudet Bill Hubbard Richard Kihn Edouard Iarov Gregory Jackson Dave Lockington Eugene Oryszczyn Robert Popkin
International AGG Maija Ceming Annely Riga Tatiana Kastsenkava
AEROBICS Holly Abraham
(Olympic judges in bold)
T and T Traci House Dave Ross Zandra Kennedy Teresa Mikola Thorne Sutherland Sandra Floyd Sean McManus Heather Ross McManus Terry Mitruk John Smyth Melissa Chisholm David Harris
RG Tamara Bompa Svetlana Joukova Evelyn Koop Jutta Mueller Danuta Smiechowski Polina Tzankova 75
Coaches Gallery - Coaches who have coached an Olympic athlete and/or coached athletes at World level for 3 quadrennials.
76
David Arnold
Alex Bard
Lorne Bobkin
Elena Davydona
Svetlana Degteva
Liliana Dimitrova
Maria Folprecht
Eugene Galperin
Dan Glendon
Tobie Gorman
Leonid Grakowsky
Lawson Hamer
Lori Ierullo
Evelyn Koop
Mimi Masleva
Brian McVey
Masaaki Naosaki
Bernard Newman
Carol-Angela Orchard
Mary Lea/ Geoff Palmer
Bill Perkins
Don Rope
Benita Rope
Dave Ross
Marilyn Savage
Elvira Saadi
Deborah Vidmar
Tom Zivic
Ontario Presidents
John Hunter 1968 - 1970
Craig Stirton 1995 - 1997
Jan Waldauf 1970 – 1974
Colin Wackett 1983 – 1985
Ed Brougham 1975 – 1979
Lester Wood 1985 – 1989
Gene Sutton 1997 - 1998
Slava Corn 1979 – 1980
Rhoda Silzer 1989 - 1991
Harold Sanin 1998 - 2002
Susan Harris 1980 - 1983
George Curran 1991 - 1995
Angel Crossman 2002-2008
Linda Clifford 2008-
Rhythmic Presidents prior to merger with OGF in 1983: Evelyn Koop, Kaarina Dillabough, David Williams
77
Ontario athletes who earned US scholarships
78
ATHLETE
CLUB
YEAR US COLLEGE
ATHLETE
CLUB
YEAR US COLLEGE
Rhiannon Banda-Scott
Mississauga
2004
Michigan State
Brittnee
Habibe
Markham/Gemini
2008
Nebrask
Melanie
Banville
Ottawa
2005
Alabama
Jason
Hardabura
Burlington BG’s
1999
Nebraska
Natalie
Barrington
Mississauga
1998
Alabama
Leah
Hashimoto
East York
2000
Eastern Michigan
Marci
Bernholtz
ASF
2007
UCLA
Natalie
Hashimoto
East York
1995
Eastern Michigan
Tom
Bertrand
General Amherst High
1974
Northern Michigan
Nicole
Heikkela
Seneca
2007
Michigan State
Beth
Birmingham
Winstonettes
1885
Univ. of Florida
Danielle Hicks
Gemini/ASF
2004
Arizona
Alyssa
Brown
Mississauga
2008
Stanford
Jaime
Hill
Mississauga
1996
West Virginia
Sara
Burtinsky
Seneca
2001
Central Michigan
Elyse
Hopfner-Hibbs Seneca
2008
UCLA
Lisa
Campagnoli
Mississauga
1999
Penn State
Krystin
Holody
Guelph
2006
Winona State
Emily
Cercado
Mississauga
2003
Eastern Michigan
Leah
Homma
Seneca
1994
UCLA
Jennifer
Charlebois
Oshawa
2004
Eastern Michigan
Ashley
Houghting
Seneca
Adrienne Child
Xoces Eagles
1987
New Mexico
Mark
Irsching
Western Michigan
Laura
Chow
Mississauga
1998
Central Michigan
Marvin
Johnson
Windsor
1954
Eastern Michigan
Melissa
Chow
Mississauga
2001
Central Michigan
Colleen
Johnson
Seneca
1992
Univ. of Florida
Kristen
Coleman
Ottawa
2003
Michigan State
Frank
Juhasz
West End Toronto Y
1954
Florida State
Michelle Conway
Seneca
2001
UCLA/Iowa
Janice
Kerr
Winstonettes
1986
Univ. of Florida
Marina
Degteva
Mississauga
1998
LSU
Ian
Kirk
Shenderey
1991
Arizona State
Lena
Degteva
Mississauga
1996
UCLA
Patti-Jo
Knorr
Cambridge
1981
Oregon
Bethany Dworkin
Winstonettes
1992
Ohio
Leanne
Laing
Nepean Corona
1993
Massachusetts/
Jennifer
Winstonettes
1997
Stanford
Amherst
Amanda Fuller
Burlington
2008
Eastern Michigan
Seymen
Lau
Winstonettes
1990
Ohio State
Stacey
Galloway
Mississauga
1996
Georgia
Mike
Le Meau
Sault Ste. Marie
1978
Northern Michigan
Aisha
Gerber
Cambridge/Oakville
2008
UCLA
Larissa
Lowing
Winstonettes
1992
LSU
Teri
Gibson
Mississauga/Burlington
2005
LSU/Iowa
Leslie
Mak
Seneca
2008
Oregon State
Crystal
Gilmore
Cambridge
2001
UTAH
Sharene Mamby
Mississauga
1997
LSU
Leslie
Gould
London Gym Kips
1985
Univ. of Florida
Remo
Mancini
General Amherst High
1969
Michigan
Alex
Grant
Mississauga
2007
Iowa
Nino
Marion
Windsor
1956
Michigan
Erin
Grigg
North Bay
2006
Eastern Michigan
Doug
Massey
York University
1993
UCLA
Jason
Gursono
York University
1998
New Mexico
Ellen
McCarthy
Seneca
2006
Denver
Exaltacion
Washington
Christina McDonald
Oshawa/Winstonettes
1988
Univ. of Florida
Casey
Sandy
Mississauga
2004
Penn State
Susan
Winstonettes
1966
Centenary College,
Elfi
Schlegel
Xoces Eagles
1982
Florida
Louisiana
Brittany
Schuett
Cambridge
2008
Arizona
Shanyn
MacEachern Mississauga
1998
LSU
Karina
Senior
Markham/Winstonettes
1996
Michigan State
Anne
McGeachy
Mississauga/Cambridge
1978
Penn State
Jennifer
Simbhudas
Winstonettes/Pulsars
2005
Iowa
Laura
McLaren
Winstonettes
2002
Central Michigan
Wendy
Shaw
Sudbury Laurels
1978
Utah
Bruce
Medd
Ottawa
1972
Michigan
Rebecca
Simbhudas
Winstonettes/Pulsars/Gemini 2007
Iowa
Steve
Mitruk
Germania
1967
Penn State
Natalie
Slupher
Burlington
2008
Arizona
Katelyn
O’Donnell
Mississauga
2006
Boise State
Nathalie Sulpher
Ottawa
2000
Pittsburg
Koyuki
Oka
Seneca/Winstonette
1992
Ohio
Lori
Strong
Oshawa/Winstonettes
1992
Georgia
Leo
Oka
Seneca
1997
Illinois
Aubrey
Taylor
Mississauga
2003
Arizona State
Andrea
Owoc
Mississauga
1985
Univ. of Florida
Jill
Teskey
Xoces Eagles
1982
Indiana State
McDonnell
Julie Ann Passy
Seneca
Central Michigan
Melanie
Tham
Mississauga
2006
Iowa
Brian
Pare
General Amherst High
1968
Ohio State
Andrea
Thomas
Xoces Eagles
1984
Georgia
Ashley
Peckett
Mississauga
2003
UCLA
Greg
Thomas
Ottawa
1986
Michigan
Rusty
Pierce
Ottawa
1971
Michigan
Stacey
Tomasis
East York
2001
Eastern Michigan
Cara
Pomeray
Ottawa
2003
Illinois
Chantelle Tousek
Cambridge/Guelph Saltos
2003
Univ.of Florida
Laura Kay Powell
Ottawa
2002
Iowa
Yvonne
Tousek
Cambridge
2000
UCLA
Heather
Purnell
Ottawa
2005
Stanford
Jessica
Tudos
Xoces Eagles
1984
Arizona State
Janine
Rankin
Xoces Eagles/Mississauga
1998
West Virginia
Stella
Umeh
Mississauga
1994
UCLA
Jocelyn
Rathbun
Seneca
1990
Univ. of Florida
Zuyen
Vuong
Ottawa
2005
Eastern Michigan
Travis
Romagnoli
Vaughan/Mississauga
1995
Illinois
Michelle Walker
East York
1998
SE Missouri
Nigel
Rothwell
Opti Y Windsor
1976
Michigan
Wendy
Wilkinson
Mississauga
1990
Michigan
Katie
Rowland
Winstonettes
1992
Penn State
Tracy
Wilkinson
Xoces Eagles/Winstonettes
PSU
Alison
Rudisi
Mississauga
2000
Michigan
Lydia
Williams
Seneca
2005
Berkeley
1970
Clarion University
Theresa Wolf
Mississauga
1998
Utah
Ernestine Russell Weaver Windsor Liana
Saadi
Cambridge
Michigan
Stacie
Wood
Burlington
2008
Eastern Michigan
Katie
Sampson
Mississauga/Oakville
Ithaca College
Mike
Zuke
Sault Ste. Marie
1970
Norther Michigan
2009
79
Events hosted by Ontario National Championships 1955 1956 1957 1959 1960 1963 1967 1973 1977 1978 1984 1988 1993 1996 1997 1998 2000 2001 2001 2004 2005 2009
Nationals, Windsor Nationals, Toronto Nationals, Toronto Nationals, Windsor Nationals, Toronto Nationals, Toronto Nationals, Toronto Nationals, York University, Toronto Nationals, Toronto Nationals, Ottawa Nationals, Waterloo Nationals, McMaster/Copps, Hamilton T&T Nationals,York University, Toronto Nationals, Sault Ste Marie Nationals, Ottawa Nationals, Chedoke, Hamilton T&T Nationals, Etobicoke, Toronto T&T Nationals, Etobicoke, Toronto Rhythmic Nationals, Humber College, Toronto Nationals, Hershey Centre, Mississauga RG Individual Nationals, Hamilton Nationals, McMaster, Hamilton
Major International Competitions 1973 1973 1975 1976 1977 1978 1980 1984 80
China/Canada, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto USSR/Canada, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto MilkMeet at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto MilkMeet at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto Coca Cola Meet, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto Ontario Cup at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto World Cup at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto Sokol Slet – Toronto
1984 1994 1985 1986 1986 1987 1987 1988 1988 1988 1989 1990 1990 1991 1991 1991 1991 1992 1992 1992 1993 1993 1994 1994 1996 1997 1998 1998 1999 2000 2000 2000 2001 2003
Reach for the Sky in Toronto Panasonic Cup in Toronto Reach for the Sky in Toronto Canadian Classic in Mississauga Reach for the Sky in Toronto Reach for the Sky in Toronto Challenge Cup, Seneca, Toronto Canada/Britain men in Burlington Reach for the Sky in Toronto Four Continents at Varsity Arena in Toronto Reach for the Sky in Toronto Canadian Airlines Cup at Skydome in Toronto Reach for the Sky in Toronto Koop Cup, Varsity Arena in Toronto Reach for the Sky in Toronto CNE Challenge in Toronto Tri-Meet, Humber College, Toronto Reach for the Sky in Toronto Koop Cup, Varsity Arena in Toronto Soapberry at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto Reach for the Sky in Toronto Soapberry at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto Bluewater, Sarnia Subway Meet, Hamilton Bluewater, Sarnia Bluewater, Sarnia Bluewater, Sarnia Gymnastradra, Ottawa Bluewater, Sarnia Bluewater, Sarnia Bluewater, Sarnia Gymnastic Challenge, Hershey Centre, Mississauga Spring Cup, Burlington Bluewater, Sarnia