Since coming to the club in 1994, Elvira has developed a program spanning the pre-competitive, provincial, national and international level. Elvira has coached such decorated athletes as 1996 and 2000 Canadian Olympian, Yvonne Tousek, and 2000 Canadian Olympian Crystal Gilmore. As a gymnast herself, Elvira placed 8th All Around in the 1972 Olympics in Munich and 7th AA at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal . She won two Olympic gold medals as part of the Soviet Union ’s team at the 1972 and 1976 Olympics, alongside team-mate Olga Korbet. She excelled in the floor exercise, in which she combined elements of traditional Tartar dance. Saadi, herself a Tartar and descendant of the Russians of east central Europe , was known for her complex gymnastics.

Elvira made the transition to coaching in 1976 in Moscow for the Moscow Dynamo Gymnastics School . Saadi says her love of children was one of the primary reasons she chose to become a coach. Elvira also coached renowned Soviet gymnast Tatiana Groshkova. Elvira is both a well respected gymnast and coach. In 1996 and 2004, Gymnastics Canada recognized her as the Coach of the Year. In 1997, she was recognized by the Ontario Government for her contribution to sport and was awarded the Female Coach of the Year.

In the spring of 2009, Elvira was recognized by her peers for her passion as a gymnast and as a coach and was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. Elvira is a level 3 Artistic Coach.

Originally from Yugoslavia , Lily was a rhythmic gymnast in the national stream. She started her coaching career in 1982. Since then she represented Yugoslavia as a coach at the European Championships in Greece in 1994 and had athletes compete in three world championships – Sarajevo , Yugoslavia, 1989, Athens , Greece, 1991 and Brussels, Belgium, 1992. Lily has a BSC in Physical Education and is a level 3 Rhythmic Coach and Judge.

Before coming to Cambridge , Lily coached at Sport Seneca from 1995 to 2000. There she provided instruction for the recreational, provincial and national stream gymnasts. Lily joined our team in the summer of 2000 and later that year accepted the position of Rhythmic Head Coach. She has worked very hard to progress our program from a provincial level to a national level. Her most decorated Kips athlete is Shaina Gilliam.

Vladimir joined our coaching staff in 1995. He has coached in the Soviet Union and, prior to arriving in Canada, coached for the Brazilian National Team for 3 years. He is a specialist on the vault and bars. He coaches for the Kips in the provincial and national level. In 1996 & 2004, Gymnastics Canada recognized him as the Coach of the Year for his successful coaching of Yvonne Tousek (Top Canadian Olympian) and Aisha Gerber (Junior Canadian Champion).

Vladimir is a respected and well-loved coach, and has been the team coach for various meets including provincial, national, and international championships.

Cambridge Kips has had the pleasure of Charmaine’s coaching expertise since 2001 and later joined the competitive coaching team in 2004. She began her coaching career in 1997, spending two years in Bolton, Ontario, coaching at the Pre-Competitive level. Charmaine just recently completed her NCCP level 3 Women’s Artistic course and also has her certification in level 2 Men’s Artistic & Trampoline. Charmaine is a very versatile and dedicated coach, training our provincial athletes and working alongside Elvira and Vladimir in the national program. Charmaine graduated from the University of Waterloo with a degree in Mathematics.

As Competitive Co-ordinator, she handles all competitive athlete and competition registrations, correspondence with Gymnastics Ontario and Gymnastics Canada Gymnastique, and helps the bookkeeper with ARs.

Kim has been coaching at the Kips since 1997. She has an Honors Diploma in Advanced Coaching Techniques from Seneca College in Toronto . She is fully certified level 2 Women’s and Trampoline and has completed her level 3 Women’s Theory and Technical. Kim is known for giving a strong foundation in fundamentals for gymnastics.

At the age of 11, Sara, a trained dancer in ballet and jazz, joined Cambridge Kips and competed with the recreational programs for many years. Sara joined the Cambridge Kips’ staff in 1996 and became a valued member of our competitive coaching team in 2006. Sara is NCCP certified level 2 Women’s Artistic and Trampoline coach and is working towards her level 3 Women’s Artistic certification. Sara is a tremendous asset to our group of coaches.

Ludmilla joined our coaching staff in April of 1998. Presently, she is the choreographer and dance instructor for both artistic and rhythmic competitive athletes at the club. Her award-winning choreography is known both nationally and internationally. Before arriving in Canada, Ludmilla received her Teacher/Coach of Sport Diploma (Honors) at the University of Donetsk, Ukraine, where she also attained a degree in Biochemistry of Sports. Ludmilla earned her Master of Sport Degree in the USSR . She was a coach/choreographer for the Donetsk State School of the Highest Sport for 7 years in rhythmic gymnastics and aerobics. Ludmilla was the 1990 Ukrainian Rhythmic Champion as well as 8-time silver and 8-time bronze medal winner. She competed internationally for the USSR National Junior Team.

Lynne has joined our competitive coaching staff in 2009. She has developed and expanded our advanced recreational, which feeds into our pre-competitive program, over the past 5 years. Lynne‘s love for kids and the sport is displayed in every athlete she coaches. She is fully NCCP certified in Level 2 Women’s and Trampoline.

Pam brings a wealth of gymnastics and management experience to this new role. Her leadership skills, collaborative management style, experience in sport administration and expertise in not-for-profit organizations will be essential components in her role as the day-to-day manager of the Cambridge Kips.

Pam has over 30 years of experience in sport and administrative experience. She is a certified National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Learning Facilitator and shares her expertise with coaches in both the technical and theory components. Pam is a FIG (Federation of International Gymnastics) Brevet Judge (international ranked official). Pam has an Honours Bachelor of Science Degree from York University in Physical Education, has been an instructor in the department of kinisiology at the University of Toronto and taught at Seneca College, Newnham Campus.

Megann holds the position of Club Co-ordinator at the Cambridge Kips and joined our team in 1997. She is responsible for all of the recreational programming at the club. Megann is a Child and Youth Worker and holds a Human Resources Certificate. As a Coach, Megann has obtained certification in Level 2 Men’s Gymnastics, Women’s Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Trampoline as well as Level 1 training in Pre-school Gymnastics and Special Olympics. Megann facilitates courses for coaches throughout Southern Ontario in artistic and rhythmic gymnastics and in the principles of healthy childhood development. Contact MegAnn at megann@cambridgekips.com

Christine assists the Club and Competitive Co-ordinators and Recreational Supervisor by providing office support and services to all of our membership. She has been a valued employee since 2002. Christine is also responsible for tracking, organizing, communicating volunteer hours for the competitive parents. Any inquiries about volunteer hours, please contact her at christine@cambridgekips.com .

Joan has been the Club’s bookkeeper since 1997. Joan is responsible for the overall financial statements and club invoicing. Should you have any concerns regarding billing, please feel free to contact her at joan@cambridgekips.com.