Joyce Percey had the time of her life at the 2014 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships that ended Saturday. Participants in men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics, trampoline and rhythmic gymnastics from 15 countries bordering the Pacific Ocean competed.
“It’s just phenomenal,” Percey told the Peak on Friday during a break in her schedule that began at 7 am and ended at 11 pm each day. “I’m so thoroughly inspired being part of this and seeing how huge events are run.”
Percey applied to work at the event, which is a qualifier for the world championships and 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. She came on board as office manager and did much of the pre-event work online. She recently retired as coach of Powell River Gymnastics Club and only had two face-to-face meetings before she was required to be at the event.
One of her duties was booking 1,000 hotel nights for competitors, coaches and officials.
“Competitors stayed in three major hotels, all within walking distance of the venue,” explained Percey. With Vancouver International Airport so close, it did not take much time for them to be settled in their hotels and beginning their practice sessions.
When Percey arrived on site, she was involved with four days of set-up at Richmond Oval involving six semi-trailer trucks.
“One day there was nothing but open space, and then there was a full competition gym and complete training gym, set up side by side,” said Percey.
Sharing in the experience were two Powell River doctors—Brigitte Dohm and Elena Senilova—along with their daughters Katie and Katya, both 13 years old, who are local gymnastics club members.
“You have to be 16 years old to volunteer,” Percey explained, “but we were desperate doctors, so there was an exception made for Katie and Katya.”
Two junior coaches from the local club, Megan Budd and Jessica Kenmuir, also volunteered at the event.
“Gymnasts here are so good,” said Megan, 18, “and it’s so cool to see everyone together in this one place.”
Jessica, 17, added that she enjoyed watching rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline, which she did not get to see as a high school gymnast. “It’s so different from what we’re used to seeing. I’m glad we came.”
“We’re all just star-struck,” Percey explained. “They were able to see the big picture and their part of the big picture in their little town.”
Attending the meet was American Kyla Ross, member of the 2012 Olympic gold medal-winning gymnastics team and 2013 world all-around silver medalist. “It was fun to see people rush to get her autograph,” said Percey.
She also met Canada’s most successful gymnast Kyle Shewfelt.
“There’s so much positive energy; this must be what it’s like to be part of the Olympics,” said Percey, adding that the entire event is volunteer-based.
Pacific Alliance of National Gymnastic Federations owns the event and bids it out every two years.
Gymnastics BC hosted the 2014 competition and Gymnastics Canada was the sponsor.
More exciting than any of the individual or team finishes was the fact that the organizing committee was told it had put on the best event ever held in Canada.
“I can’t say enough about the experience,” said Percey. “Just being a little part of something that big, this has launched a new opportunity for me and I don’t know where it will go.”
