Aisha Gerber
Encyclopedia
Aisha Gerber is a world-class Canadian artistic gymnast.
Starting as a member of the Cambridge Kips gymnastics club at the age of three, Gerber was coached by former Soviet Olympic champion Elvira Saadi
and Vladimir Kondratenko. Now a member of the Oakville Gymnastics Club she is currently coached by Kelly and Sue Manjak (Kelly Manjak coached Kyle Shewfelt to his gold medal on floor at the 2004 Olympics). Gerber began competing at the national level in 2000, placing second in the novice division at the Canada Elite meet. In 2001 she won the novice division; in 2002 she became the Canadian junior national champion.
In 2003, at the age of thirteen, Gerber began competing internationally for Canada, placing 22nd at the Massila Cup. Over the next three years, Gerber represented Canada at various meets at home and abroad, including the 2005 Pan Am Championships where she was a member of the bronze medal winning junior team.
Gerber made an impressive senior debut, winning a bronze medal behind Nastia Liukin
and Shayla Worley
at the 2006 American Cup. Beset by illness, she missed the 2006 Commonwealth Games
, but returned to competition at the 2006 Pacific Alliance Championships in Hawaii
in April, helping the Canadian women achieve a third-place finish in the team finals. She went on to compete at the World Cup finals in Ghent
, placing fifth on the floor exercise and sixth on the balance beam.
Her expressive floor exercise routine, set to music by Dire Straits
, has attracted attention and praise from many commentators and members of the gymnastics community.
Gerber is currently an active member of the Canadian senior national gymnastics team.
Starting as a member of the Cambridge Kips gymnastics club at the age of three, Gerber was coached by former Soviet Olympic champion Elvira Saadi
Elvira Saadi
Elvira Saadi is a retired artistic gymnast from the former Soviet Union who is now an elite gymnastics coach in Canada....
and Vladimir Kondratenko. Now a member of the Oakville Gymnastics Club she is currently coached by Kelly and Sue Manjak (Kelly Manjak coached Kyle Shewfelt to his gold medal on floor at the 2004 Olympics). Gerber began competing at the national level in 2000, placing second in the novice division at the Canada Elite meet. In 2001 she won the novice division; in 2002 she became the Canadian junior national champion.
In 2003, at the age of thirteen, Gerber began competing internationally for Canada, placing 22nd at the Massila Cup. Over the next three years, Gerber represented Canada at various meets at home and abroad, including the 2005 Pan Am Championships where she was a member of the bronze medal winning junior team.
Gerber made an impressive senior debut, winning a bronze medal behind Nastia Liukin
Nastia Liukin
Anastasia Valeryevna "Nastia" Liukin is a Russian-American artistic gymnast. She was the 2008 Olympic individual all-around Champion, the 2005 and 2007 World Champion on the balance beam, and the 2005 World Champion on the uneven bars...
and Shayla Worley
Shayla Worley
Shayla Worley is an American gymnast. She was a member of the gold medal-winning American team at the 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. She has been training at Orlando Metro Gymnastics where she is coached by Jeff Wood and Christi Barineau, since she was a Level 6 gymnast...
at the 2006 American Cup. Beset by illness, she missed the 2006 Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
, but returned to competition at the 2006 Pacific Alliance Championships in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
in April, helping the Canadian women achieve a third-place finish in the team finals. She went on to compete at the World Cup finals in Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, placing fifth on the floor exercise and sixth on the balance beam.
Her expressive floor exercise routine, set to music by Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
, has attracted attention and praise from many commentators and members of the gymnastics community.
Gerber is currently an active member of the Canadian senior national gymnastics team.