Congratulations to our 2023 City of Kitchener Athletic Awards recipients - Eden C, Charlotte B, Kaitlyn R, Lydia P, and coaches Dan Glendon and Joy Barth Marques.
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Celebrating Spirit at the 2019 Kitchener Athletic Awards BanquetCongratulations to our 2018 Provincial Champions receiving awards at the Kitchener Athletic Awards Banquet March 19 - Coach Joy B, Zaman B, Ashley M, Krysta I (absent) and Head Coach Dan G (absent).
Well done athletes! |
CTV News visits GlendonWe would like to thank CTV News and Stuart Gooding for visiting our gym and featuring us in their In Your Backyard Programming. It was a lot of fun, the athletes all enjoyed themselves and Stu was a great sport and did really well for his first day of gymnastics. Check out all 3 segments from the program.
Segment 1 https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video… Segment 2 https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video… Segment 3 https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video… |
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Krysta Ioannidis: Leaping and flipping her way to the top
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Congratulations goes out to Glendon Gymnastics’ Krysta Ioannidis for her performance at the 2018 Eastern Canadian Gymnastics Championships - Oshawa ON, May 12 - 13, 2018
It was a Team Ontario Gold for the Level 8 Novice, Krysta Ioannidis at the Eastern Canadian Championships held this past weekend in Oshawa. Krysta had outstanding performances on all 4 events, capturing a Silver Medal on Bars, placing 4th on Beam as well as Floor, earning a 5th place over-all finish in the All-Around and helping the Team to earn first place in the Level 8 category.
Krysta was selected to represent Ontario at Easterns, after placing in the top four in her category at the Provincial Championships held earlier this year. Krysta’s excellent performance at Easterns caps off a successful competition season for the Glendon Gymnastics athlete. Congratulations Krysta! |
Team Ontario Level 8 Novice - Krysta Ioannidis, Grace Kelly, Ava Stewart and Sarah Gantlett
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The 2018 Ontario Provincial Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships took place at the Libro Centre in Amherstberg Ontario this past weekend (April 5 – 8, 2018) hosted by Rose City Gymnastics. Thirteen of the Glendon Gymnastics Competitive Level 6-10 (Age 9+) Athletes qualified by ranking in the top 32 in their respective category based on the results of three qualifying competitions. Congratulations to Vienna Twomey Nola Smith, Kaitlyn Roberts, Olivia Silva, Maddie Litwin, Libby Walker, Ashley Malcolm, Hanna Palubeski, Krysta Ioannidis, Erica Gibson, Rachel Gibson Denia Kasikovic and Jennifer Elizarov. Four Glendon athletes (Hanna Palubeski, Krysta Ioannidis, Denia Kasikovic and Jennifer Elizarov) also earned spots in the Event Finals component where the top 8 athletes (Level 7-10, Age 14+) from across the province compete for individual event championship podium finishes.
There were excellent performances across the board for the Glendon Gymnastics team this weekend – In the Level 6 categories Kaitlyn Roberts (Age 12) earned a Bronze on Bars, Nola Smith (Age 12) placed 6th on Bars, 7th on Floor and 6th in the All-Around along with Vienna Twomey (Age 11) who placed 7th on Bars. In the Level 7, Age 15 category, Libby Walker earned a Bronze for her Bar performance and placed 4th on Beam, 8th on Floor and 7th All-Around. Gold medals were earned by Krysta Ioannidis in the Level 8 Age 14 category for her Uneven Bars and Balance Beam performances also earning her a Silver in the All-Around. Krysta also qualified to compete at the Eastern Canadian Championships that will take place in Oshawa May 11 – 13. Gold was earned by Ashley Malcolm on Vault in the Level 8 Age 15 category, where Hanna Palubeski also placed 6th on Bars and 7th on Beam. In the Level 8, Age 13 category, Erica Gibson placed 6th on Vault and 8th on Floor. Denia Kasikovic placed 8th on Bars in the Level 8 Age 16+ category and in the Level 9 Age 14/15 category Jennifer Elizarov earned a Bronze for her Vault performance.
In the Event Finals Competition, Krysta Ioannidis placed 4th on Beam, Hanna Palubeski placed 7th on Floor and Denia Kasikovic placed 4th on Bars.
Congratulations to all the athletes and coaches for a great weekend of gymnastics!
Celebrating at the Kitchener Athletic Awards BanquetCelebrating 15 Gold Medal Provincial Championship and Eastern Canadian Championship Performances at the Kitchener Athletic Awards Banquet with Erica G, Kaitlyn R, Alyssa C, Hanna P, Jennifer E, Emily S and coaches Dan and Joy. Congratulation athletes and coaches!
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Another great competition weekend for Glendon’s Level 6 – 10 Competitive Team, with Denia Kasikovic leading the way earning 5 Gold medals in the Level 8 Age 16+ category
Congratulations to all of our Level 6 - 10 competitors and coaching staff on the results of their second qualifier meet of the 2017-18 season. Fifteen of our athletes took part in the Woodbridge Provincial Qualifier this past weekend, February 3 – 4.
In Level 6, Age 11, Vienna Twomey, took top spot in the All-Around with Gold on Vault and Bars and Silver on Beam and Floor.
Four athletes competed in the Level 6, Age 12 category, with All-Around first place going to Olivia Silva, earning gold in Vault and Beam. Nola Smith placed 3rd in the All-Around with a Gold on Floor and Bronze on Vault. Kaitlyn Roberts earned a Gold medal on Bars and Bronze on Floor, and Lilah Buchanan’s Bar performance landed her a Bronze medal.
In the Level 6, Age 13 category, Bronze medals were earned by Maddie Litwin on Floor and Lexi Bender on Bars.
Libby Walker earned Gold in the All-Around Level 7 Age 15 category, with Gold on Bars, Silver on Beam and Bronze Medals on Vault and Floor.
In Level 8 Age 13, Erica Gibson placed 2nd in the All-Around with Gold on Bars and Floor and Silver on Vault. Rachel Gibson earned a Bronze medal on Vault.
Krysta Ioannidis placed first place in the Level 8, Age 14 All-Around with Gold Medals on Vault and Beam and Silver Medals on Bars and Floor.
Two athletes competed in the Level 8, Age 15 category with Ashley Malcolm earning 2nd place in the All-Around, earning Gold on Vault and Silver Medals on Bars and Floor. Hanna Palubeski earned Gold with an amazing 9.675 score for her excellent performance on Floor.
Jennifer Elizarov placed 2nd in the Level 9, Age 15 category, earning Silver on Bars and Bronze medals on Vault, Beam and Floor.
Gold medals were earned across the board by Denia Kasikovic in the Level 8, Age 16+ category.
Well done and congratulations to all the athletes!
In Level 6, Age 11, Vienna Twomey, took top spot in the All-Around with Gold on Vault and Bars and Silver on Beam and Floor.
Four athletes competed in the Level 6, Age 12 category, with All-Around first place going to Olivia Silva, earning gold in Vault and Beam. Nola Smith placed 3rd in the All-Around with a Gold on Floor and Bronze on Vault. Kaitlyn Roberts earned a Gold medal on Bars and Bronze on Floor, and Lilah Buchanan’s Bar performance landed her a Bronze medal.
In the Level 6, Age 13 category, Bronze medals were earned by Maddie Litwin on Floor and Lexi Bender on Bars.
Libby Walker earned Gold in the All-Around Level 7 Age 15 category, with Gold on Bars, Silver on Beam and Bronze Medals on Vault and Floor.
In Level 8 Age 13, Erica Gibson placed 2nd in the All-Around with Gold on Bars and Floor and Silver on Vault. Rachel Gibson earned a Bronze medal on Vault.
Krysta Ioannidis placed first place in the Level 8, Age 14 All-Around with Gold Medals on Vault and Beam and Silver Medals on Bars and Floor.
Two athletes competed in the Level 8, Age 15 category with Ashley Malcolm earning 2nd place in the All-Around, earning Gold on Vault and Silver Medals on Bars and Floor. Hanna Palubeski earned Gold with an amazing 9.675 score for her excellent performance on Floor.
Jennifer Elizarov placed 2nd in the Level 9, Age 15 category, earning Silver on Bars and Bronze medals on Vault, Beam and Floor.
Gold medals were earned across the board by Denia Kasikovic in the Level 8, Age 16+ category.
Well done and congratulations to all the athletes!
Successes at the 2017 Level 3 - 5 Provincial Championships
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June 2017 – Congratulations to all of the Glendon athletes that competed in the 2017 Level 3 – 5 Provincial Championships in London Ontario, June 1 – 5.
In the Level 4, Age 11 category Kaitlyn Roberts earned a Gold on Balance Beam, Silver on Bars, 4th on Floor and placed 4th in the All-Around. In the Level 4, Age 12 category, Katelyn Blais placed 5th on Bars, Beam and Floor, finishing 7th in the All-Around. Claire Eskens placed 7th on Bars in the Level 3, Age 12 category. We look forward to continued growth and success for this group of young athletes. |
Kaitlyn Roberts, Level 4 Age 11 Beam Champion
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Championship wins at the 2017 Eastern Canadian Gymnastics Championships (Sackville NB, May 5 – 7)
Three Glendon Gymnastics athletes competed this past weekend at the 2017 Eastern Canadian Gymnastics Championship held in Sackville New Brunswick (May 5 – 7, 2017). Alyssa Churchill, Jennifer Elizarov and Emily Silbernagel each were selected to represent Ontario at Easterns, after placing top four in their respective categories at the Provincial Championships held earlier this year.
On Day One of the Eastern Canadian Championships, Alyssa Churchill was named Floor Champion in the Level 8 Open category, earning a Gold Medals on floor as well as in the Team competition. Alyssa also captured Bronze Medals on Beam, Bars and in the All-Around competition.
Day Two of the Championships brought three more Gold Medals and a Silver for the Glendon gymnasts. Team Golds were captured by both Jennifer Elizarov (Level 8 Novice) and Emily Silbernagel (Level 9, Age 16+) Jennifer also earned Silver on Floor, placing 8th overall in the All-Around competition. Emily was named Bar Champion earning a Gold on Bars and placing 4th overall in the All-Around.
In total the Glendon gymnasts captured nine medals - five Gold, one Silver and three Bronze at the 2017 Eastern Canadian Championships. Congratulations athletes and coaches for such outstanding results.
On Day One of the Eastern Canadian Championships, Alyssa Churchill was named Floor Champion in the Level 8 Open category, earning a Gold Medals on floor as well as in the Team competition. Alyssa also captured Bronze Medals on Beam, Bars and in the All-Around competition.
Day Two of the Championships brought three more Gold Medals and a Silver for the Glendon gymnasts. Team Golds were captured by both Jennifer Elizarov (Level 8 Novice) and Emily Silbernagel (Level 9, Age 16+) Jennifer also earned Silver on Floor, placing 8th overall in the All-Around competition. Emily was named Bar Champion earning a Gold on Bars and placing 4th overall in the All-Around.
In total the Glendon gymnasts captured nine medals - five Gold, one Silver and three Bronze at the 2017 Eastern Canadian Championships. Congratulations athletes and coaches for such outstanding results.
Glendon Gymnastics brings home 9 Gold medals, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze and 2 All-Around Champions at the 2017 Ontario Provincial Artistic Gymnastics Championships, with 3 athletes moving on to Eastern Canadian Championships
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April 2017 - There were stellar performances across the board for the Glendon Gymnastics team at the Ontario Provincial Artistic Gymnastics Championships held in Toronto at Exhibition Place this past weekend April 6 – 9. All 10 gymnasts from the Glendon Gymnastics Senior Competitive Team qualified to compete at the Provincial Championships, with three team members also earning spots as individual event finalists at the Saturday evening competition.
In the All-Around Individual Championships, Emily Silbernagel (Level 9, Age 16+) earned Gold on the Uneven Bars, 4th on Beam and 5th on Vault capturing the All-Around Provincial Championship Gold. Jennifer Elizarov (Level 8, Age 14) earned Gold on the Uneven Bars, Silver on Vault, 4th on Floor and also captured the All-Around Provincial Championship Gold. Alyssa Churchill (Level 8, Age 16+) earned Gold on the Uneven Bars, Silver on Balance Beam and Bronze on Floor, winning a Silver in the All-Around. Erica Gibson (Level 6, Age 12) won Gold on Floor, 5th on Bars and placed 8th in the All-Around. Krysta Ioannidis (Level 7, Age 13) earned 7th place on both Vault and the Uneven Bars, placing 6th in the All-Around. On Bars, Rachel Gibson (Level 6, Age 12) finished 4th, Denia Kasikovic (Level 8, Age 16+) finished 5th, Libby Walker (Level 7, Age 14) placed 7th, and Ashley Malcolm (Level 7, Age 14) and Hanna Palubeski (Level 8, Age 14) finished 8th in each of their categories. Hanna also placed 8th on Beam. Special awards were presented to Alyssa Churchill (Most Artistic Floor Choreography) and Ashley Malcolm (Highest Flying Bar Routine). In the Event Finals Competition, Gold medals were earned by Emily Silbernagel and Hanna Palubeski on Bars and Alyssa Churchill on the Balance Beam. Emily also placed 6th on Vault and Alyssa earned a 7th on Bars. Emily, Alyssa and Jennifer each qualified to compete at the Eastern Canadian Championships being held in Sackville New Brunswick, May 5 – 7. |
Some medal performances from the 2017 Ontario Provincial Artistic Gymnastic Championships.
Congratulations to our three Event Finalists Gold Medal winners from the 2017 Ontario Provincial Championships, Alyssa, Hanna and Emily. Great work athletes and coaches - Joy Barth and Dan Glendon.
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Great Results at the
Ontario Gymnastics Championships (Level 3 – 5)
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June 2016 - Great results for the Glendon Junior Competitive Team at the Level 3-5 Ontario Provincial Gymnastics Championships held this past weekend in Belleville at the Quinte Bay Gymnastics Club. All of our athletes finished the season with podium results with two of our athletes being named individual event Ontario Provincial Champions.
In level 3 age 9 Group A, Kaitlyn Roberts earned the Gold Medal on Beam, a Silver Medal on Bars and 4th in the All-Around as well as technical awards for excellence on both beam and bars. Nola Smith competing in the same category was 5th on Beam, 7th on floor and 6th All-Around. In Level 3 Age Group B Lilah Buchanan was 7th on Vault, 6th on Floor and 8th All-Around. In the Level 3 age 10 category Katelyn Blais earned the Gold Medal on Bars with a season high score of 9.7 and was 7th on Vault. Lexi Bender competing at the same level was 5th on Bars and 7th on Beam. Congratulations athletes and coaches on such wonderful results in your first ever Ontario Provincial Gymnastics Championships. We are looking to great things in the future from these young athletes. |
Kaitlyn Roberts, Gold Medal Beam
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Katelyn Blais, Gold Medal Bars
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A podium finish at Eastern Canadian Championships for Glendon Gymnastics’ Jennifer Elizarov
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May 2016 - It was a podium finish for gymnast Jennifer Elizarov at the Eastern Canadian Championships held in Quebec City. Jennifer’s outstanding individual results included gold on Floor, bronze on Vault, 4th on Bars, 5th on Beam, and a bronze in the All-Around, helping the Ontario team to capture gold in the Level 7 category. As a 2016 provincial champion, Jennifer earned one of four spots on the Level 7 Ontario team for the Eastern Championships. Jennifer’s strong performance at Easterns caps off a successful competition season for the Glendon Gymnastics athlete.
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Glendon Gymnastics brings home 6 Gold, 4 Silver and 2 Bronze medals, an All-Around Champion and a Perfect 10.00 score at the Ontario Provincial Artistic Gymnastics Championships this weekend
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April 2016 - All 8 gymnasts from the Glendon Gymnastics Senior Competitive Team qualified to compete at the Ontario Provincial Artistic Gymnastics Championships that were held in Mississauga at the International Centre this past weekend April 7 – 10, with three team members earning spots as individual event finalists at the Saturday evening competition. Emily Silbernagel, Uneven Bars and Balance Beam finalist earned a Silver medal on Beam, Denia Kasikovic, finished in 6th place on Vault and Alyssa Churchill, Uneven Bars and Balance Beam finalist, earned Silver on Beam and Gold on Bars with a perfect 10.00 performance.
In the All-Around Individual Championships, Jennifer Elizarov earned Gold on Uneven Bars, Silver on Vault and a Bronze on Floor, to capture the All-Around Provincial Championship Gold. Alyssa Churchill finished 4th in the All-Around, earning Gold on Balance Beam, and it was another Gold on Beam for Krysta Ioannidis, who placed 6th in the All-Around, and a Gold on Uneven Bars for Emily Silbernagel, placing 5th in the All-Around. On the Uneven Bars Libby Walker earned a Silver and Hanna Palubeski earned Bronze. Denia Kasikovic finished 5th on Vault and Ashley Malcolm finished 8th on Vault and Bars. “I have been very impressed with the hard work, attention to detail and the positive team approach of our athletes in preparing for this meet”, says Head Coach Dan Glendon. “All of the athletes of Glendon Gymnastics consistently support and challenge each other to perform at the highest level in every training session”. Jennifer has qualified to compete at the Eastern Canadian Championships being held in Quebec City, May 5 – 8, with both Alyssa and Emily being named as first alternates for the competition. 
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More outstanding results for our senior competitive team
Our senior competitive team went five-for-five at the final Provincial Championship Qualifier in Cambridge this weekend, with All-Around Champions in each of the five categories entered. Congratulations to our All-Around Champions Krysta, Libby, Jennifer, Alyssa and Emily, as well as our other top placing athletes Hanna (3rd), Ashley(8th), and Denia (7th). All have earned spots to compete at the provincial championships in April.
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Congratulations to our Level 3 competitors and coaching staff on the results of their first meet of the 2016 season.
Congratulations to our Level 3 competitors and coaching staff on the results of their first meet of the 2016 season. Six of our athletes took part in the Cupid Invitational competition at the Pickering Gymnastics Club on February 6, 2016. All of our athletes finished in the top 5 in their respective age groups, each achieving a score of 36.00 or higher for an average of over 9.0 per event.
Our 8 years olds, Vienna and Nyla were ranked 1st and 2nd in their category. In the 9 year old group Kaitlyn R. was 3rd and Lilah was 4th. Katelyn B. was 4th and Lexi finished 5th in the division for 10 year olds. We are very proud of our athletes’ tremendous results. Great job girls!
Our 8 years olds, Vienna and Nyla were ranked 1st and 2nd in their category. In the 9 year old group Kaitlyn R. was 3rd and Lilah was 4th. Katelyn B. was 4th and Lexi finished 5th in the division for 10 year olds. We are very proud of our athletes’ tremendous results. Great job girls!
Need some PD Day and March Break activities for the kids?
Check out our fun gymnastics day camps.
First Provincial Championship Qualifying Meet
November 2015
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Great Results for the Glendon Gymnastics team at the first provincial qualifier of the season in Windsor.
27 medal winning performances from our 8 competing gymnasts. Six athletes finished top three in their categories including Gold for Jennifer, Alyssa and Krista, Silver for Emily and Bronze for Hanna and Denia. Congratulations also go out to Beam Champion Libby and to one of our most improved athletes who placed top six on two events, Ashley. Way to go girls - we are very proud of our team. Looking forward to your next competition in February at the second Provincial Championship Qualifying Meet in Blenheim. |
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Glendon adds another award to his long list of achievements
Congratulations to Dan Glendon, our Head Coach and gym owner, for receiving a Life Membership Award from Gymnastics Ontario for his noteworthy and significant contributions to the development of the sport. Dan received this award at the annual awards banquet which was held October 24, 2015.
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Back on the pommel horse
Dan Glendon is back — and he’s on a mission to create the best gym Waterloo Region has ever seen.
By Adam Jackson
Kitchener Post staff
September 03, 2015
Gymnastics coach Dan Glendon will open his own club in Kitchener in late September. The former KW Gymnastics Club head coach has spent a year as a constultant and is now ready to be back in his very own gym.
Dan Glendon is back — and he’s on a mission to create the best gym Waterloo Region has ever seen.
By Adam Jackson
Kitchener Post staff
September 03, 2015
Gymnastics coach Dan Glendon will open his own club in Kitchener in late September. The former KW Gymnastics Club head coach has spent a year as a constultant and is now ready to be back in his very own gym.
Dan Glendon is back — and he’s on a mission to create the best gym Waterloo Region has ever seen.
The former head coach of the KW Gymnastics Club took a year to work as a consultant, but soon enough — by the end of the summer — he’ll be back in his very own gym.
Glendon, an internationally-recognized gymnastics coach with more than 40 years of experience, put everything he knew about gymnastics facilities into one, at 235 Ardelt Avenue in Kitchener.
The facility, which is set to open on Sept. 26, is carefully thought out and built from the bare bones of the warehouse-style space just off of Highway 7 at Homer Watson Boulevard.
Every detail is mapped out with careful attention to detail — from bathroom placement to the 2,000-square-foot seating area for spectators of athletes.
Glendon, who spent the last year helping others build and design gymnastics facilities, took the best bits and pieces and put them all under one roof in what he thinks will be the best premises for youth gymnastics in the area.
Among the features is a special viewing gallery for parents — something Glendon said is often overlooked when constructing a gymnastics facility.
Glendon said he chose to build his gym of dreams in Kitchener for a simple reason.
“I’ve been here for 20 years and it’s home,” he said. “Coaches that I have trained live here — even athletes that I’ve trained.”
While there are other gymnastics clubs in the region — including the KW Gymnastics Club — Glendon says there will be demand for a new club.
“I know there is (enough demand),” said Glendon. “I know that many clubs have waiting lists.”
Glendon says he also picked the industrial area on Ardelt Road because the surrounding residential area has been historically under-serviced in terms of recreational facilities.
“We looked at the situation, with KidsAbility across the road, and the soccer fields and baseball fields, we knew that this was just a great area for kids.”
The space also allowed him to work from a completely empty shell building and construct the club exactly the way he wants.
In the last year, Glendon worked with elite athletes in Toronto, and was offered seven jobs from coast to coast, but something drew him back to Kitchener.
“I really wanted to have my own group of athletes and run a program like the ones I’ve designed for other people,” said Glendon.
While Glendon has vast experience with elite gymnasts, the new gym will be available to all — from as young as preschoolers to adults.
“Every gym also runs competitive ... we looked at each program separately and made sure that we incorporated into the design the perfect setting for all of the levels,” said Glendon. “The entire program, from the ground up, has to have a flow to it.
“Every competitive athlete starts in a recreational program as well and at some point, they’ll find that they have the drive or want to pursue it at a higher level, so we have to make sure that what they do in the recreational program ... is taught really well.”
Glendon started in gymnastics in high school, before continuing at the University of Western Ontario to get a degree in physical education.
In his last two years, he was MVP and team captain for the last two years in university.
His coach was involved with London Gym Kips, a local gym that had just started up. When they built a full-time facility, Glendon took over as head coach.
“It was a natural fit,” he said.
Within five years of being head coach, he had an athlete in the Olympics.
“I like the whole process. I love seeing children that are 18 months old ... the ones that have the ability and the right attitude can go on to wherever they want.'
The former head coach of the KW Gymnastics Club took a year to work as a consultant, but soon enough — by the end of the summer — he’ll be back in his very own gym.
Glendon, an internationally-recognized gymnastics coach with more than 40 years of experience, put everything he knew about gymnastics facilities into one, at 235 Ardelt Avenue in Kitchener.
The facility, which is set to open on Sept. 26, is carefully thought out and built from the bare bones of the warehouse-style space just off of Highway 7 at Homer Watson Boulevard.
Every detail is mapped out with careful attention to detail — from bathroom placement to the 2,000-square-foot seating area for spectators of athletes.
Glendon, who spent the last year helping others build and design gymnastics facilities, took the best bits and pieces and put them all under one roof in what he thinks will be the best premises for youth gymnastics in the area.
Among the features is a special viewing gallery for parents — something Glendon said is often overlooked when constructing a gymnastics facility.
Glendon said he chose to build his gym of dreams in Kitchener for a simple reason.
“I’ve been here for 20 years and it’s home,” he said. “Coaches that I have trained live here — even athletes that I’ve trained.”
While there are other gymnastics clubs in the region — including the KW Gymnastics Club — Glendon says there will be demand for a new club.
“I know there is (enough demand),” said Glendon. “I know that many clubs have waiting lists.”
Glendon says he also picked the industrial area on Ardelt Road because the surrounding residential area has been historically under-serviced in terms of recreational facilities.
“We looked at the situation, with KidsAbility across the road, and the soccer fields and baseball fields, we knew that this was just a great area for kids.”
The space also allowed him to work from a completely empty shell building and construct the club exactly the way he wants.
In the last year, Glendon worked with elite athletes in Toronto, and was offered seven jobs from coast to coast, but something drew him back to Kitchener.
“I really wanted to have my own group of athletes and run a program like the ones I’ve designed for other people,” said Glendon.
While Glendon has vast experience with elite gymnasts, the new gym will be available to all — from as young as preschoolers to adults.
“Every gym also runs competitive ... we looked at each program separately and made sure that we incorporated into the design the perfect setting for all of the levels,” said Glendon. “The entire program, from the ground up, has to have a flow to it.
“Every competitive athlete starts in a recreational program as well and at some point, they’ll find that they have the drive or want to pursue it at a higher level, so we have to make sure that what they do in the recreational program ... is taught really well.”
Glendon started in gymnastics in high school, before continuing at the University of Western Ontario to get a degree in physical education.
In his last two years, he was MVP and team captain for the last two years in university.
His coach was involved with London Gym Kips, a local gym that had just started up. When they built a full-time facility, Glendon took over as head coach.
“It was a natural fit,” he said.
Within five years of being head coach, he had an athlete in the Olympics.
“I like the whole process. I love seeing children that are 18 months old ... the ones that have the ability and the right attitude can go on to wherever they want.'