Meet our Head Coaches
Our Head Coaches at Niagara Falls Lightning Gymnastic Club have called our club home for almost 25 years and we have had the privilege of seeing them not only develop fine athletes, but also our coaching staff as well.
All of our coaches are NCCP and first aid certified. Lightning has an active Coach-in-Training program, which provides opportunities for older gymnasts to continue staying active in their chosen sport and to share their skills with young gymnasts.
Andrei Gorodetskii
* Level – 3 NCCP Fully Certified Competitive Artistic Gymnastic Coach
* Level – 2 NCCP Fully Certified Coach in Trampolining
* Masters Degree in Journalism - University of Lviv, Ukraine
* Masters Degree in Physical Education, Specialty in Competitive Gymnastic Coaching -
Institute of Physical Culture, Lviv, Ukraine
* Trained in basics of Sports Medicine, Massage and Physiotherapy at Lviv Institute of Physical Culture, Ukraine
* Trained in First Aid and CPR
* Master of Sports in Artistic Gymnastics
* National Junior Champion and Medalist of former USSR.
* Member of Combined Team of Armed Forces of the former USSR representing former USSR at international competitions
* National High Performance Champion of Ukraine
* Gymnastic National Level Judge in former USSR and Ukraine
* Coach (Men) of Specialized School of Olympic Reserve, Lviv, Ukraine
* Head Coach (Men) of College of Physical Education, Lviv, Ukraine
* Co-trained Junior National Level athlete, Silver Medalist in European Junior Championships, Sweden-1989
* Prepared five Ukrainian Masters of Sports in Men’s Competition, Junior Champion of Ukraine, Medalists of Ukraine and Sport Army Clubs
* Awarded many times with “Charters of Honor” for excellent work
* Prepared National and Provincial level Champions and Medalists in Provincial and National Canadian Championships, Elite Ontario, Ontario Cup and Ontario and Canadian Winter Games
Valentina Kashkevich
* Level – 3 NCCP Fully Certified Competitive Artistic Gymnastic Coach
* Level – 2 NCCP Fully Certified Coach in Trampolining
* Masters Degree in Physical Education Specialty in Competitive Gymnastic Coaching and Choreography - Institute of Physical Culture, Lviv, Ukraine
* Trained in basics of Sports Medicine, Massage and Physiotherapy at Lviv Institute of Physical Culture, Ukraine
* Trained in First Aid and CPR
* Solid background in ballet (8 years of ballet classes)
* Master of Sports in Rhythmic Gymnastics
* Gymnastic national level judge in former USSR and Ukraine
* Coach-Choreographer of Specialized School of Olympic Reserve, Lviv, Ukraine
* Acrobatic Head Coach-Choreographer (Women/Men) of Sport School of Olympic Reserve “TR”, Lviv, Ukraine
* Worked as a part of the team preparing Junior National Level athlete, who won Silver Medal in European Junior Championships, Sweden-1989
* Winner of award “The Best Coach of Ukraine” – 1991
* Prepared choreography, created floor and beam routines for gymnasts and acrobats in former USSR and Ukraine for National and International competitions
* Choreographed programs for mixed acrobatic team, who won Silver Medal in Junior World Championships, Germany -1995
* Awarded many times with “Charters of Honor” for excellent work
* Prepared and organized very successful gymnastic show for 25th Anniversary of Gymnastics Mississauga - 1994
* Awarded with the Medal for “The Best Floor Choreography” in 1995 Canada Winter Games, Ontario Selection Meet, Vancouver
* Twice awarded with GO “Irina Ivleva Award for Outstanding Floor Choreography” in Provincial Championships, Kingston 2005 and 2006
* Awarded with Special Judges award for “The Best Floor Choreography” in Provincial Championships, Windsor-2011
Niagara Falls Lightning Gymnastic Club would like to express our gratitude to the