Article by: Flora Cheung

Niki Lavoie joined Gymnastics Canada (“GymCan”) in February 2018 after working for many years at OGC as the co-director of the power tumbling program where she coached developmental to senior national athletes. Now, Niki manages the trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline programs for Gymnastics Canada. She is also the technical lead for power tumbling and double mini-trampoline and assists the trampoline National Team Director, Karen Cockburn, administratively.

Niki is a certified NCCP level 4 coach in trampoline, tumbling, and DMT and Level 3 trained in women’s artistic gymnastics. She is also a FIG Brevet coach and a provincial-level power tumbling judge. All of us at the club and those whom have trained directly with her agree that Niki’s love and heart for the sport of gymnastics and its young athletes is undeniable.

Niki credits her many years as coach and mentor in preparing her for the role at GymCan. She shares, “I would say my many years as a coach, where I learned and was mentored by many people, helped prepare me the most. I have also been lucky enough, with Don Holmes, to have had the opportunity to coach many talented athletes which has led me to experience many high level events.”

When asked about her most memorable moment after her first year at Gymnastics Canada, Niki admits, “There have been many but if I had to choose one, I would say the mostmemorable was being able to witness Rosie MacLennan’s gold medal at the 2018 World Championships in St. Petersburg, Russia.  I was also able to be present at these same Championships, where Canada achieved a historic bronze medal in the first ever all-round event!”

So what advice would Niki like to share with the athletes at OGC? “I would like to tell the athletes at Oakville Gymnastics Club to keep striving for their dreams, to believe in themselves, and to enjoy gymnastics, no matter what level or age they’re at,” says Niki.

“To the high-performance athletes:  There is a very short window in life that athletes have to be at high performance, so embrace its challenges and take the opportunity to enjoy their moment every time they step up onto the competition floor to present before their performances.”

When asked about her love for the sport of gymnastics, Niki admits that she loves so many things about the sport. She loves its grace and artistry, coupled with its technical demands and challenges. She also loves the confidence it gives to athletes which allows them to be very well-rounded athletes and individuals.

Niki is most proud of having had the opportunity to witness and help athletes achieve the goals they have set for themselves and helping them not just be the best athletes they can be, but also to be the best people they can be.

A Fun Fact:

Niki once performed as a hand balancer at Madison Square Garden.

A Favourite Quote:

“The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself, often well beyond any latent ability you may have previously demonstrated. The mind is the athlete, the body is simply the means it uses to run faster or longer, jump higher, shoot straighter, kick better, swim harder, hit further, or box better.”  ― Bryce Courtenay, The Power of One