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More about...
Ashley Arnold
From the first time I watched my sister compete I knew that rhythmic gymnastics would be a big part of my life. The excitement, grace, movement, athleticism and dance spoke to me in a way no other sport had or could.
Although I watched the sport from the time I was a toddler, I did not actually begin to train in a formalized program until I was 8 years of age. I began in a Level 1 Group and that year we were the Provincial Champions in our category. An awesome beginning for a little girl! In moving up through provincial levels everything didn't always come so easily as that first year. But by Novice Level 4 in 1991 National Stream, I was ranked 1st in BC and I was loving every moment I had in the gym. Competing for Club Adagio and as part of the BC National Level Team was exciting and rewarding, but I think my most memorable years were when I was part of Adagio's and BC's Canada Winter Games Group. During that time it was so much fun to be part of a Group and in fact my best friends were in the Group too....making it an even richer experience. Leading up to the 1994 Canada Games our Group had won the Silver Medal at the Canadian National Championships, a seemed very promising indeed. But unfortunately our Group was unable to maintain its momentum and seriousness in our training and we dropped to a disappointing 4th place finish at the Games that year. It was a setback for us....but it also left me with some life lessons that I still look back on today as being very valuable.
During the time I trained with Club Adagio I also trained with Arts Umbrella as a dancer. Once I retired from competitive rhythmic gymnastics (prematurely I now believe at age 16), I turned to dance as a means of creative expression and had the good fortune to train with Mary-Louise Albert in Jazz and Modern Dance. However, one of my regrets is that I never had the opportunity to train from a young age with a rhythmic gymnastics coach the caliber of our BB Ignatova....I only wish I'd had someone with her drive and expertise to push me through my resistance and perceived limitations. But regret aside, Rhythmic Gymnastics has enriched me in so many ways. It has helped to mold me into a strong and confident person. It taught me a good work ethic and strong interpersonal skills.
There is not, in fact, a day that goes by when I regret my involvement in this beautiful sport and that is why I continue to be involved as a coach and a judge. This current coaching year has been especially rewarding for me because I have begun a Dance Academy Program at Club Adagio which marries my two passions, rhythmic gymnastics and dance....and I am even enjoying the challenge of performing again myself. I hope through my love of coaching that I can give my gymnasts a similar sense of passion and love for my sport and set them on a rewarding journey in their young lives.
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