Gymnastics BC honoured the province’s top athletes, coaches and volunteers at its recent annual awards banquet.
Among the award recipients were two women recognized for their lifetime contributions to gymnastics in BC.
Joyce Percey was honoured as a Gymnastics BC Members of Distinction for her work in bringing quality gymnastics to Powell River. Percey opened the Powell River Gymnastics club in 1998. Since that time thousands of children have benefited from her passion for gymnastics. Her years as a coaching facilitator were also recognized as she has travelled throughout BC leading certification courses for new coaches.
“I was floored when I was informed of the award,” said Percey, who unfortunately was unable to attend the ceremony. She was in the middle of three different travel activities and was not able to coordinate her attendance this year.
Percey spent 30 years coaching, teaching and doing evaluations before her recent retirement.
Burnaby’s Kyna Fletcher was honoured as a Life Member of the association for her years of service to Gymnastics BC and Gymnastics Canada. Fletcher was cited for being a coach, mentor and sport administrator. Included in her many accomplishments is her role as the architect of Canada’s women’s artistic gymnastics team who finished fifth at the 2012 Olympics.
Among the other awards was a special recognition of the 2014 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships volunteer organizing team. There were 230 gymnasts from 15 countries who took part in the event this past April. According to Gymnastics BC, it is considered to be one of the best international events to be held in Canada.
Percey was a major part of the planning and implementing committee.
“After that meet, my first international level one, I was totally hooked, working with such a dynamic group,” Percey explained.
She has bid to be part of another international meet, the 15th World Gymnaestrada in July 2015 in Helsinki, Finland.
“The event is for group floor routines and there are routines for ages 10 and up,” explained Percey. “The oldest are in their 80s. Some of the presentations include hundreds of gymnasts.”
She said one of the qualifying groups is from Kamloops, which does a “stunning routine based on the four seasons.”
Competitors start with provincial, Western Canada and then Canadian competitions before qualifying for the World event that takes place every four years.
Percey had shoulder surgery following her retirement from which she has been recovering. She recently accepted the position as poverty law advocate with Powell River Community Services Association. “When I was looking at a new career, I thought about my skills and what I’m good at, including conflict resolution,” she explained. She took some criminology courses at the Justice Institute of BC, which helped when she applied for her new position.
“I’m excited about the new direction I’m taking with my career,” said Percey, “and looking forward to hearing if I’m successful in my bid for Helsinki. I still love gymnastics and still want to be involved in some way.”
