Cadets Girls Instructors

Elite Gymnastics Cadet Girls Instructors

Lyudmila Grebenkova (Mila).

Mila comes to us from Russia and has an impressive resume. Mila was on the Russian Olympic Team from the late 1990’s to mid-2000’s helping her team to win the Silver Medal at the 2001 World Championships and the Bronze Medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

She was awarded the Olympic Bronze Medal on balance beam in 2004! She also competed for Russia at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing where she competed balance beam. Mila was particularly noted for her work on balance beam where she was a four-time world and European medalist, including being a champion once.

Her balance beam routines were characterized by a wide array of difficult acrobatic skills connected in immediate, unusual sequencing. We are honored to have Mila join the staff at EGA. We are confident she will help us continue to foster and develop high caliber gymnasts!

Dana Holmgren

Dana started gymnastics at the age of 4. When she was 11 years old, she competed Levels 6-9 all in one year as she had moved to a new club who saw her potential. As a level 9 gymnast, her favorite event was bars. In 2005, she tore the tendons in both of her ankles which ended her competitive gymnastics career; however, her love for the sport continued. She started coaching beginners classes and taught for 2 years at Midwest Gymnastics. Currently.

Dana is a student at the University of Minnesota studying Civil Engineering. She is also a gymnast on the U of M club team. She is very excited about her new coaching position at EGA!

Emily Kaas

Emily is a former EGA team member who has been with EGA for 3 years and competed through Level 5.

She has left competitive gymnastics to have more time for school and friends, but is excited to be a gymnastics coach.

Emily will be helping Masha coach the Super Stars pre-team for the time being. Emily is a sophomore in high school and is already taking college classes at the University of Minnesota.

In her free time Emily likes to swing dance, play the flute and hang out with friends. We are excited to have one of our very own gymnasts join the coaching staff at EGA!

Michelle Frederick

Rec. Program Director/Prep Optional Team Director

Former USAG Competitive Gymnast. Started gymnastics at the age of 5 and competed levels 5 – 8 in USA Gymnastics. Moved to high school gymnastics where her team won Sections (Big 9).

Michelle’s daughter Lexi is currently in Elite’s Level 5 team program.

Michelle holds a J.D. from St. Thomas School of Law and a B.S. in Child Psychology from the University of MN. She is a family law attorney when she is not coaching.

Michelle is USAG Professional Member, USAG Safety, American Red Cross First Aid and CPR Certified..

Mariya Balakireva

Pre-School Gymnastics, Tots GymnasticsAs a former Competitive Gymnast, she has translated her experience into a successful coaching career in youth gymnastics. Her focus on coaching has been with pre-school through high school levels of gymnastics.

Her coaching technique is structured in the Russian style with a strong emphasis on solid technique and safety.

Valentina Balakireva

 Elite Level Artistic Gymnastics Coach and Choreographer. Renowned success as a coach at the local, state, national and international competitive gymnastics levels. Over 35 years of experience in Russian style coaching and training from beginning skill levels through elite. A coach with a strong emphasis on technique and safety.

EDUCATION

  • 1971 - 1975:  B.A. Degree in Physical Education, National Institute of Physical Training of Republic of Kazakhstan, USSR 
  • 1971 - 1975:  Head Choreographer, National Team Coach, Institute of Physical Education, Republic of Kazakhstan, USSR
  • 1988:  Post Graduate Training, Artistic Gymnastics, Central Sports Training, Unions Club, Moscow, USSR

 

EXPERIENCE 

 

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