Kalev-alumnae

FORMER KALEV CHAMPIONS

° The first Canadian Rhythmic Gymnastics National Team (1971) consisted of Kalev members Connie Lindenberger, Melanie Ivey and Susanne Mihkelson.
° Kalev has produced many CHAMPIONS since that time.
° The club has also had some remarkable performers over the years. For pictures of the performing elite teams, click here.

Diana Kwon was a National Team member 2002 - 2004. Among her achievements are: a gold medal in group at the Nationals in 2000, a 10th place at the Koop Cup 2001 and representing Canada at the Deriugina Cup 2002. She joined the Rhythmic Expressions for the 2004-5 season and competed at the AGG Worlds in Denmark 2005, in Spain 2007, in Toronto 2008 and in Bulgaria 2010. She also performed at the FIG Gala of the World Gymnaestrada 2007. In 2011, she competed and performed at the Koop Cup in Toronto.

Rachel Cossar was an RG competitor and National Team member for several years. (The following text from Boston Ballet website:) Cossar began her training at the National Ballet School of Canada, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, before joining the Boston Ballet School as a trainee. Cossar danced with Boston Ballet II for the 2008 - 2010 seasons before she was promoted to the corps the ballet in 2010. Cossar's Boston Ballet repertoire includes the Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet.

Katia Zaitseva, Kalev RG gymnast and member of the National Team. She was CHAMPION at the Provincials already as a Novice in 1999, and National Regional Child Champion in 2000. As a Junior in 2003, she was 5th at the Nationals, 2nd in 2004, 3rd in 2005. That year, she also got a silver medal at the Junior Pan-American Games in Brazil, and also competed at the Aeon Cup in Japan.

Ekaterina (Katia) Kharlip, former National Team member, both as an individual (7th at Elite Canada and 8th at the Nationals 2007) and in group (silver medal at the Canadian Group Championships 2007. Later, she performed with the Rhythmic Expressions and competed at several World championships. She also coached for Kalev.


	Emilie Livingston, Kalev's Olympian in Sydney, where she represented all of the Americas! The year before, she was the Pan-American CHAMPION. Emilie was also captain of Canada's Senior National Team, which got silver at the Pam-Ams 2003, bronze at Kalamata, Greece in 2003 and placed 12th at the World Championships 2002 in New Orleans and 2003 in Budapest. Emilie was also a member of Kalev's Rhythmic Expressions 2004-06, representing Canada at the AGG World Championships 2005 and 2006. Now living in Los Angeles.

Irina Funtikova, Junior National CHAMPION 1999, second in Canada as a Senior, member of Canada's Senior Group which got silver at the Pam-Ams 2003, bronze at Kalamata, Greece in 2003 and placed 12th at the World Championships 2002 in New Orleans and 2003 in Budapest.

Irina was a member of Kalev's Rhythmic Expressions and competed at the AGG Worlds in Bulgaria 2004. She is now a student and a model.


Talvi Kuld, former RG competitor, winning group silver at the Nationals 1998 and 1999. Former member of the Senior Elite and of Rhythmic Expressions. Competed at AGG Worlds 2001-03 and 2005. Performed at two World Gymnaestradas.		Kiiri-El Kuld, Provincial CHAMPION 2003.

Aleksandra Jurevich began RG at age 11 and two years later became Provincial CHAMPION. She competed nationally and internationally and was a member of the National team in 2001.

Oksana Cheveleva, National Rope CHAMPION 2001 and Junior Group Champion 2001. Also competed internationally, at "Four Continents Championships" in Brazil.

Triinu Kimmel , former Estonian National Team member, coached for Kalev for six years and also performed regularly with the "Rhythmic Expressions" frequently as a soloist. She was Head Coach of the Markham Centre, as well.

Carly Orava , Provincial Novice CHAMPION 2000, Junior Group National champion 2001. Also competed internationally: Japan (Aeon Cup) and Brazil (Four Continents).


		Heli Oder - former National Team member, competing in Norway, Finland, Brazil and Monaco. Heli was a member of the Kalev Estienne Senior Elite and the original "Rhythmic Expressions", performing all over the world, on five continents, participating in four World Gymnaestradas. As a Kalev coach she gave many future competitors (among them Alex Orlando) their start in RG. Now head of Toronto French School's Phys. Ed. department and a member of the Alumnae Elite. (Heli in front of the team at right.)

Juilee Gondhalekar - Provincial CHAMPION 2000.
Coaching for Kalev Estienne for many years.

Jordana Caruso - Provincial CHAMPION 1999

Olga Morosova - Provincial CHAMPION 2001.

Sydney VanDelft - Novice CHAMPION at Elite Ontario 2000.


Vanessa Livingston Provincial Jr. CHAMPION overall and in every apparatus in 1993. Competing at the Nationals as a Senior, she was 5th overall (2nd in ball). She was recruited to "Rhythmic Expressions" at its beginning and was a member of the Canadian FIG Gala Team 1999. She has a B.A. in dance from Ryerson University and was also selected as a cheerleader for the Toronto Phantoms Arena Football Club cheerleading squad and the Jays crew (New Blue Jays Cheerleaders). Now living and working in Norway.		Gloria Hui Began RSG training at age 6. As a Novice, she won bronze overall at the Provincial Championships. As a Junior, she competed at the Nationals and, as a Senior, at the Florida State Invitational, L. A. Lights, the NHK Japan Invitational and in Cape Town, South Africa. Gloria was a member of the "Rhythmic Expressions" 1997- 2000 and also of Kalev 's FIG Gala Team at the World Gymnaestrada in 1999. Now living in Ottawa.


Susanna Wadsten - Provincial Jr. CHAMPION in 1992 and Sr. group champion 1996. She has coached elite and recreational groups, was a member of the Child, Junior and Senior Elite, and one of the founding members of the "Rhythmic Expressions", Kalev's AGG team. Performed at three World Gymnaestradas. Has a M. Sc. in Eco-Tourism from King's College, London, UK. Living and working in Germany.		Shirra Cremer - studied under Katrin Pettinen for many years, became a member of the Sr. Elite, was Senior provincial group CHAMPION 1996 and also performed with the "Rhythmic Expressions", travelling to many parts of Europe. She also coached for Kalev. Graduated as a nurse from Western U.


Camille Martens joined Kalev in 1995 and became the CHAMPION at the Olympic Trials 1996. She was the only Canadian to represent the sport at the 1996 Olympics at Atlanta, USA!	Later, she became a coach (photo from Group Nationals 99) with a club of her own, Okanagan Rhythmics in B.C.


Melissa Jung - CHAMPION (gold overall) at Eastern Regionals 1998, competed in Cape Town, South Africa. Formerly a soloist with the Rhythmic Expressions		Mary Sanders - Junior National CHAMPION (gold overall and in every apparatus) at the Nationals 1998.


Alexandra Orlando - Novice CHAMPION at L. A. Lights 1997.		Tamar Krauss - 1995 Novice Provincial CHAMPION (gold in every apparatus as well as overall). Former member of the Rhythmic Expressions


	Natasha Watkis - Provincial Novice CHAMPION (gold overall and in all apparatus) 1996.		Emma Fedson - Pre-National CHAMPION 1997 and gold in Ball, silver in Hoop, bronze in Rope


Carmen McKnight - former Provincial CHAMPION		Veronica Radolovich - Provincial CHAMPION 1997


Simone Lazor - Ontario Sr. CHAMPION (gold overall and in every apparatus) 1995, silver at regional championships 1995 and CHAMPION in hoop, clubs, ball and ribbon.		Theresa Fung - former Junior CHAMPION (photo at right: Theresa and coach, "Lusi") . National and inter- national competitor, retired in 1995. Later at York U, majoring in Fine Arts (dance). Now teaching.


Jenni McGuire - Became British National CHAMPION 1995 while training with Kalev and coach Lusi Dimitrova.		Clare McFarquhar - on the National Team 1990-93, silver and bronze at competitions as a junior in the States 1990, on the Canadian Olympic training team in 1992. CHAMPION at Four Continents 1992. Now a teacher.


Sanya Eng - Silver at the Provincials, Coast-To-Coast and the Nationals 1988. National Team member until 1991. CHAMPION at a competition in Paris, France, 1990. Now a harpist with the Toronto Symphony.		Malene Charles (with Madame Tchakarova) - silver at Coast-to-Coast and National Junior CHAMPION 1991. Also at the Four Continents Trial 1992. On the National Team 1991-94. International competitions included China and winning team silver in Belgium.


Lissa Barnsley - competitor and member of the Senior Elite 1985-95		Tuulika Mölder - Estonian National Champion, performed with the Senior Elite and the Rhythmic Expressions.


Taimi Petersoo began RG as a child and was a member of the Kalev Junior Elite, Senior Elite, the "Rhythmic Expressions" and the Alumnae Elite.		Linda Makk is a long-term member of Kalev, performing with the Junior Elite, Senior Elite, and Alumnae Elite.

Monique Romeiko - competitor and member/ soloist of Kalev's Senior Elite. Later, Toronto Dance Theatre, followed by coaching R. G. in Yukon.

Jenny-Ann McGowan - competitor and member of the Senior Elite.


Leanne Cooke - Bronze as Junior at Elite Canada, "Coast- to-Coast" and the Nationals in 1989. National senior group CHAMPION in 1988.		Brigee Cheung - CHAMPION at Elite Provincials and "Coast-to-Coast" 1990


Nicole Dervourst - CHAMPION at the Winter Games and "Coast-to-Coast" as a Junior 1987		Vanessa Hii - Novice CHAMPION at "Coast-to-Coast" 1987

Even the most famous of all Canadian rhythmic gymnasts, Lori Fung, trained with Kalev at an early stage of her career. Evelyn Koop worked hard to introduce RSG as an Olympic sport and brought her Kalev girls to demonstrate the sport at the Montreal Olympics 1976. It was most fitting that it was a Canadian athlete who became the first Olympic CHAMPION in Rhythmic Gymnastics! Lori founded Club Elite Rhythmic club in Vancouver B.C.

Adrienne Dunnett
Adrianne Dunnett - Group National CHAMPION 1978, on the Canadian Olympic Team in 1984.

Lori (with flag) and Adrianne --->


Marta Bobo - from Spain, coached by Ivanka Tchakarova, 6th in the world and competing for Spain at the 1984 Olympics. From 1985, she coached for Kalev for five years, and also performed with the Senior Elite - soloist at the opening of the "Skydome". Now owner of her own club in Spain and working on her doctorate. Her email is marbo@udc.es.		Monica Eder - member of the National Team 1980-84, and later of the Senior Elite and the Alumnae-Elite Performance groups.


Leanne Cinits - member of Canadian Team at the Worlds 1977 and 79, and Group CHAMPION at Four Continents in '78.		Kati Tihane - Provincial CHAMPION, National Team Member, 1980-83, soloist and member of the Senior Elite. Later coach for Kalev and a member of the Alumnae Elite.


Jana Lazor - Senior National CHAMPION 1978, 1979 and 1980, 29th at the Worlds 1979, 37th in 1981.		Susan Himel - Provincial CHAMPION 1980 Sheri Koenig - National Group member


Susan Locke - Junior National CHAMPION 1976 and member of Kalev 's Touring Team 1977 and 1978 (to China), Group National Champion 1978		Lynda Thompson - silver in Canadian Pre-masters National Championships, and Group National CHAMPION in 1978


Mari Vähi - Senior National CHAMPION 1975		Janet Campbell - National Team member 1976-78


Shirley Lehtinen - Junior National CHAMPION 1972, Senior National champion 1974 and 1976, 38th at the Worlds '73, 13th in '75 and 15th in '77.		Doreen Chung - National Team member, shared 14th place at the Worlds 1975.


Susanne Mihkelson - 32nd at the Worlds 1971, Cuba		Denise Fujiwara - Senior National CHAMPION 1973, 35th at the Worlds 1973, shared 14th in 1975.


Connie Lindenberger - Senior National CHAMPION, 34th at the Worlds 1971 in Cuba		Melanie Ivey - Junior National CHAMPION, 35nd at the Worlds 1971 in Cuba