Watch above: Marian Gymnastics Centre bolsters its staff for 2014 with two world-class coaches. Jack Haskins meets the coaches with a rich international background.
SASKATOON – Gymnastics is widely considered one of the most difficult sports in the world. Mastering gymnastics requires an immense amount of strength, agility, and razor sharp concentration and in order to become an elite gymnast, one needs the proper training.
Fortunately for aspiring gymnasts in Saskatoon, two world-class coaches have planted their roots here in the Bridge City.
Dana Brass is no stranger to Saskatoon. She coached gymnastics in Saskatoon from 1986–2000, before spending the past 14 years as a coach for Cirque du Soleil.
During her time with the circus, Dana met former Olympic gymnast Frederick Nicholas and the two are now married.
Nicholas picked up gymnastics at the age of six, and went on to represent his home country of France at the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.
“It was an amazing experience because gymnastics is a very hard sport,” said Nicholas.
“I practiced gymnastics for 20 years before having the potential to be on the national team.”
Frederick and Dana are now settled in Saskatoon, working alongside Chris Baraniuk, the head coach of Marian Gymnastics Centre. Baraniuk served as a coach with Cirque du Soleil for three years, and has 27 years of coaching experience under his belt.
Baraniuk believes that gymnastics is an ideal sport for kids to practice, because of the physical and psychological benefits it can provide.
“There’s a lot of life lessons taught in the gym,” says Baraniuk.
“It’s a lot of dedication, it’s a lot of time management, it’s a lot of perseverance, dealing with frustration and striving towards excellence.”
Comments