By Dan Plouffe
Two local gymnastics administrators – Deszo Mesko and Kellie Hinnells – are currently in London, England to take in the Olympic Games.
For Dezso Mesko, the owner of Olympia Gymnastics, it’s simply to enjoy the show. Prior to the Games, Mesko wasn’t sure if he’d attend a live event, even though contacts likely could arrange to get tickets for him. It was just about soaking in the atmosphere of being around the world’s greatest athletes.
Either that, or he was too worried about what would happen in the gymnastics competition.
“Coming from Romania, that alone will bring my stress level up, since I am very passionate about the gymnastics!” Mesko says by e-mail. “I will try to stay connected as much as I can to the numerous events where amateur Canadian and Romanian athletes are involved.”
It couldn’t have worked out much better for Mesko. The Romanian women’s artistic team kept its remarkable streak of winning a medal at every Olympics since 1976 alive with their bronze, while the Canadian ladies wildly exceeded expectations by earning a place in the team final and finishing fifth.
It’s that type of memory that he hopes to bring back and apply as motivation when he returns to his club in west Ottawa.
“This year I will celebrate 10 years in Canada,” Mesko adds. “I started a club from scratch. I found a country with great opportunities and my European values are the assets that I believe made Olympia Gymnastics successful.
“London 2012 will definitely recharge my goals to stay competitive and to bring my athletes and parents a new cycle of Olympic dreams.”
For Hinnells, the general manager at Ottawa Gymnastics Centre, London 2012 was more of a business trip. She’s there to observe how it all unfolds in preparation for her upcoming role as gymnastics competition chair for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto – a post she was granted earlier this year.
“I’m really, really excited about it,” Hinnells says. “It’s going to be a good challenge, so it makes me a bit nervous too. But I know I’m up for the challenge and there’s a lot of really good people who want to be involved.”