Elvira

Elvira is the Head Coach of the Cambridge Kips Gymnastics Club Since coming to the club in 1994, Saadi has developed a top-notch competitive program at the pre-competitive, provincial, national and international levels. Elvira and Kips' Competitive Team Coaches have helped young provincial athletes reach new heights, resulting in 7 girls qualifying for Ontario Provincial Championships in one year -- an amazing record! Elvira is also the driving force behind the club's National program that includes such decorated athletes as 1996 and 2000 Canadian Olympian Yvonne Tousek and 2000 Canadian Olympian Crystal Gilmore. Elvira takes the role as coach and mentor very seriously, spending at least six days a week at the gym.

As a gymnast herself, Elvira placed 8th All-Around in the 1972 Olympics in Munich and 7th All-Around 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. She excelled in the floor exercise, in which she combined elements of traditional Tartar dance. Elvira, herself a Tartar and descendant of the Russians of east central Europe, was known for her complex gymnastics.

After competing extensively around the world in international and national championships and collecting many titles and awards, Elvira made the transition to coaching in 1976 in Moscow for the Moscow Dynamo gymnastics school. She says her love of children was one of the primary reasons she chose to become a coach. Elvira also coached renowned Soviet athletes Tatiana Groshkova.

Elvira is both a well-respected gymnast and coach. In 1996 and 2004, the Canadian Gymnastics Federation recognized her as the Coach of the Year. In 1997, she was recognized by the Ontario Government for her contribution to sport and, in particular, gymnastics, and she was awarded Female Coach of the Year.

Originally from Yugoslavia, Lily was a rhythmic gymnast in the national stream. She started her coaching career in 1982. Since the 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 level 3 Rhythmic Coach and Judge. Before coming to Cambridge, Bozin coached at Sport Seneca from 1995 to 2000. There she provided instruction for the recreational, provincial and national stream gymnasts.

Lily joined the Kips team in the summer of 2000 and late that year accepted the position of Rhythmic Head Coach. She worked hard to to develop the Kips rhythmic program from a provincial to a national level.

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Vladi joined the Kips coaching staff in 1995. He has coached in the soviet Union and prior to arriving in Canada, he coached for the Brazilian National Team for three years. he is a specialist on the vault and bars. He coaches for the Kips in the pre-competitive to national level. Vladi coached Yvonne Tousek, who was the top Canadian finisher at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. In 1996 and 2004, the Canadian Gymnastics Federation recognized him as the Coach of the Year.

Vladi resides in Cambridge and is enjoying the Canadian lifestyle. He is fluent in Russian, Portuguese and English. Amongst the gymnasts and other coaching staff, he is very well liked and respected. He has been the teach coach for various meets including provincial, national and international championships.

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Luda

Luda joined the Kips coaching staff in April of 1998. Presently, she is the choreographer and dance instructor for both artistic and rhythmic competitive athletes at the club.

Before arriving in Canada, Luda received her Teacher/Coach of Sport Diploma (Honours) at the University of Donetsk, Ukraine where she also attained a degree is Biochemistry of Sports. She earned her Master of Sport Degree in the USSR. She was a coach/choreographer for the Donetsk State School of the Highest Sport for seven years in the rhythmic gymnastics and aerobics areas. Luda was the 1990 Ukrainian Rhythmic Champion as well as an 8-time silver and 8-time bronze medal winner. She competed internationally for the USSR National Junior team.

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Charmaine

Kips has had the pleasure of Charmaine's coaching expertise since 2001. She began her coaching career in 1997. She spent two years in Bolton Ontario, coaching at the pre-competitive level. she also coached in Ottawa before coming to Kips.

Charmaine is a NCCP certified level 2 artistic coach in women's and men's artistic gymnastics and trampoline and she is currently working on her level 3 artistic. She is a very versatile and dedicated coach. She trains our pre-competitive athletes, oversees our recreational program coaches and is developing her skills as a national and provincial coach. She graduated from the University of Waterloo with a diploma in mathematics.

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Kim

Sara

Sara has been working her magic as a coach for Kips for nearly 10 years. 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. Interested in becoming a coach, she volunteered in the coach-in-training program at age 15 and went on to obtain her coaching qualifications at age 16. Sara is now a Level 2 coach dedicated to helping provincial athletes build strong skills as well as developing new gymnasts in our pre-comp program.

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Patti

Lynne

MegAnn

MegAnn, a former gymnast and Kips recreational coach, is responsible for overall co-ordination duties at the club. She received her education from Fanshawe College in Child and Youth Work and is currently working on her Human Resource Management at Conestoga College. She is a certified Level 2 gymnastics, trampoline and rhythmic coach. She also has her pre-school specialist, sports aerobics and special Olympics rhythmic qualifications. She is a course conductor for Level 1 gymnastics and Level 1 rhythmic.

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