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Ms. Davydova's achievements as a gymnast and impact as a coach at Gemini Gymnastics have been outstanding. Born in Voronege, Russia, Elena's contributions as an athlete changed the sport of gymnastics forever. She was the first woman to complete a backward giant and a Tkatchev on the uneven bars, a front salto and a round-off on balance beam, and a double back salto on floor.
Elena is the 1980 Olympic All-Round Gold Medal Champion, edging out Nadia Comaneci. She scored a perfect 10 on vault at the Games during Team Competition. She won another Gold Medal in the 1981 World Championships.
Elena retired as an athlete to attend Leningrad University of Physical Education. She later received her doctorate in Pedagogical Science at the P.F. Lesgaft State Institute of Athletic Education. Upon graduation, she joined the St. Petersburg Olympic Reserve as a coach for the Soviet National Gymnastics Team, and served as an International Brevet Judge. Elena and her family became Canadian citizens after immigrating to Canada to work at Gemini Gymnastics in 1991.
Elena Davydova and the coaching staff at Gemini have produced 7 Ontario Tour Team Members,
2 Canadian World Team members, 1 AA Senior National Champion, 1 AA Eastern Canadian Champion, 1 International AA Gold Medalist (Gymnix), 1 International Gold Medalist Vault (Gymnix), 3 International Silver Medals - Bars, Beam, Floor - (Gymnix), 8 AA Provincial Champions, 3 Carded Athletes, 3 National Team Members, and a list of medals and achievements that are too long to list. Elena has also been recognized twice as the Gymnastics Canada Gymnastique Coach of the year.
In 2007 Elena was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
View Elena's competitive pictures.
Valery Yahchybekov - Associate Coach
Valery YachybekowValery was born in Noginsk, Russia. Before joining Gemini Gymnastics, Valery was Head Coach of the Lvov National Training Centre in the Ukraine. Mr. Yahchybekov currently coaches our Provincial and National Stream gymnasts. He is a fully certified level three NCCP coach.
Kathleen van Graft - Associate Coach & Competitive Admin
Kathleen is currently coaching Provincial and Pre-Comp gymnasts at Gemini.
Kathleen graduated with honours from the Seneca College Elite Coaching Program
and has 20 years of Pre-Competitive and Competitive coaching experience.
Kathleen is a fully certified level three NCCP coach, a National Level Judge,
and serves on the Women’s Program Committee (WPC) of Gymnastics Ontario.
Email Kathleen for any Competitive Gymnastics inquiries.
Additional Coaching Staff
In addition to our full time staff, Gemini Gymnastics
also employs a range of excellent part-time coaches who coach in all our
programs. All recreational coaches are minimum certified NCCP level one and our
competitive coaches are minimum certified NCCP level two.
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