Ritmika's Olympians
Highlights
- 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
- 2008: Canadian Olympian
- 2008: Pacific Rim Champion
- September 2007: Qualified for a spot for Canada at the 2007 World RG Championships by placing 9th overall. A personal best and making history by qualifying for final routine, the first time for Canada in 22 years.
- July 2007: 3 Gold medals at the Pan America Games
- 5 time Senior Canadian Rhythmic Gymnastics Champion
- 2 time Junior Canadian Rhythmic Gymnastics Champion
- Represented Canada at all major international competitions since age 12 with major achievements at: 2003, 2005 and 2007 World Championships
- 2006: record six gold medals at Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, and the honour of being named Canada's flag bearer in the closing ceremonies.
- Sr. Pan American Games
- Jr. Four Continents silver medalist
- 2007: Jr. Pan American Games Champion and Flag Bearer for the Closing Ceremonies
- Recognized by FIG (International Gymnastics Federation) as a World Class Athlete
- Co-author of a book "In pursuit of Victory" one in six in a series on Canadian National athletes, internationally recognized.
Awards received
- 2006: Commonwealth Games Canada "Outstanding Female Athlete of the year" winner
- 2003 & 2005: Havergal College "Beyond the Ivy" award - This award is given to a student who achieves academic excellence and achievement in an extracurricular activity.
- 2003: recipient of the James Worall Award - this award is given to an athlete who has achieved athletic excellence in Ontario.
Current
Alex retired from rhythmic gymnastics after the Olympic Games and continues her studies at the University of Toronto, majoring in Political Science. She is actively involved in organizations such as:
- 2015 Toronto Pan America Games Bid Board of Director as Athlete representative
- Athlete ambassador for the Right to Play organization
- Athlete representative on the Athletes CAN Board of Directors
- Athlete representative on Gymnastics Canada Board of Directors
Alex has also been invited by many organizations as a motivational and guest speaker. She lobbied the Government on Parliament Hill on behalf of the COC, to receive more funding in the federal budget for the Road to Excellence Program. And in her spare time, she coaches and judges rhythmic gymnastics for the love of the sport!
Highlights
- 2004 Athens Olympic Games
- 2004: 15th place - Olympic Games - Athens, Greece
In August 2004 "Time" magazine wrote: "She's the best rhythmic gymnast in US history, but she's made in Canada".
Due to extremely tough qualifying standards for Olympic Games (In Canada by COC)) and lack of funding from Canadian Gymnastics Federation and Sports Canada, Mary decides to compete for USA (she holds dual U.S-Canadian citizenships). She still trained every day in Ritmika Club gymnasium (with occasional travel to Lake Placid, N.Y. to attend USA training camps). She always remained a Ritmika gymnast while competing for USA.
10th place in finals-Qualified to Olympic Games representing USA. That place secured her standing as the best rhythmic gymnast in U.S. history.
2003 - USA Champion
- Pan American Champion - Showing her versatility and depth, she swept all five individual gold medals (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
- Levski Cup Champion (Bulgaria)
- World Championships (Budapest, Hungary) - 8th place in qualification round
2002 - Canadian National Champion
- Pacific Alliance Champion
- USA Champion
2001 - Canadian National Champion
- Gold medal winner at Four Continents Championships (Brazil)
2000 - Canadian Senior Bronze medalist
1999 - Ontario Junior Champion
- Silver medalist at Nationals
1998 - Canadian Junior National Champion
Today
Mary retired from rhythmic gymnastics after the Olympic Games and was recruited to the World Famous Cirques Du Soleil where she still works and performs worldwide.