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36 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 Butterflies coach helping athletes soar she thought. "They made us do better as well," says fellow Butterflies coach and founder Janice he ribbon floats through the air behind Donaghey. "They raised the bar and we had Sofia Dershko, creating a zig-zagging to, too." And though the original intent was to trail like a sparkler on a dark night as she twirls around the gymnasium floor at provide a weekly program for young people Pope John Paul Elementary School. Though with special needs, the Butterflies organizaDershko, in her sparkling two-toned blue tion has provided its athletes much more. It leotard, is reminded by her coach to smile has helped them live healthier lives -- when she performs, the expression on her Donaghey says her daughter has lost 50 pounds through exercise and focusing on face is not forced. She is enjoying herself. It's hard to believe there once was a time nutrition since she began competing with the that Debra Dershko had a hard time getting Butterflies -- and it has given them the her daughter out from behind a computer opportunity to travel, meet friends and build their confidence. screen or away from a television. "The kids amaze me," says Butterflies par"Her sisters used to kid her about being a couch potato," she says. "Getting her to go ent Nancy Leger, whose daughter Annick is in her second year with the club. "You'd never for a walk was an effort." The 20-year-old rhythmic gymnast has figure they would go in front of a panel of judges and perform." gone from seeing the world Last year, Canada's fivethrough a computer to actu- "She's a mentor and a member rhythmic gymnasally seeing and experiencing it leader, and she has the tics team in Athens included for herself. Last year, she travfour Butterflies, including elled to Athens to compete in patience of Job. She has Dershko, Emily Boycott, the Special Olympics World a very positive outlook Elisha Donaghey-Johnston Summer Games and returned and she tries hard and Stephanie Vandamme. with five gold medals after to bring out the best With a representative in each winning the Level 1 competi- in everyone." of the four levels of competition. tion, they combined to win The opportunity to do so Janice Donaghey, speaking 20 medals in total, with each existed because Debbie about Oakville Butterflies member of the club earning Boycott founded the Oakville coach and co-founder at least one gold. Butterflies 13 years ago. After Debbie Boycott "When Sofia went to years of shuttling her other Athens, she'd never been children to hockey and volleyball games, she was looking for sporting away from me for that long. I thought it was activities for her daughter Emily to partici- going to be really hard on her," says Debra pate in. Emily, now 25, began with swim- Dershko. "Debbie's like a mother to them." ming, but when another parent mentioned Boycott is quick to share the credit with rhythmic gymnastics, Boycott was intrigued. "I've always loved gymnastics," says the her fellow coaches and parents, who look retired teacher, who taught gymnastics as a after details such as outfits. She says the phys-ed teacher at Queen Elizabeth Park at Butterflies also receive a lot of help from one point during her career. "Emily's always outside the club. Andrea Schlegel from had good balance. She loves music and she Schlegel's Gymnastics Centre has helped choreograph routines for their athletes, and loves to dance." There was only one problem. There were the Burlington Gymnastics Club allows the no local Special Olympics rhythmic gymnas- club to use its facility for free so athletes can tics programs. So Boycott, along with a few get used to performing on the carpeted floors they will use at competitions. other parents, started the Butterflies. But Donaghey says it is Boycott's direction More than a decade later, in recognition of her efforts as the club's head coach, Boycott that guides the club and its success. "She's a mentor and a leader, and she has was awarded the Ontario Coaching Excellence the patience of Job," she says. "She has a very `Good to Great' Award last weekend. The award is fitting, considering Boycott positive outlook and she tries hard to bring admits that she and the others who took the out the best in everyone." "She must have been a really good teachcoaching reins were figuring it out on the fly. She learned a basic routine for the Butterflies' er," Leger adds. "She's so encouraging. We first practice. Twenty minutes in, their six couldn't have found a better coach than her. new gymnasts had learned it. "Now what?" We really hit it lucky." By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLEBEAVERSTAFF T RIZIERO VERTOLLI / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @HALTON_PHOTOG SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Oakville Butterflies coach Debbie Bocyott received an Ontario Coaching Excellence `Good To Great' Award last weekend in recognition of her work with the Special Olympics rhythmic gymnastics program. The former phys-ed teacher co-founded the Butterflies 13 years ago and has helped many of the club's athletes win medals at international competitions.