Ernestine Russell-Carter

In 1956, Ernestine “Ernie” Russell became the first Canadian female gymnast to compete at the Olympic Games representing Canada at Melbourne 1956 and Rome 1960. At the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago, she won four gold (all-around, floor, uneven bars, vault), and two silver medals (beam, team).

A native of Windsor, Ontario, Russell initially dreamed of becoming a ballerina, but she never developed the long lines necessary for that sport. It was suggested that she try the trampoline and it led to her love of gymnastics. She was the first female athlete to receive an athletic scholarship at Michigan State University, earning a degree in physical education and dance in 1960, and then briefly taught high school before beginning her coaching career.

Russell coached at Michigan State University (1965-1967), Clarion State University (1970-1972, 1974-1979) and the University of Florida (1979-1992), where her team won the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) national title in 1982 (before the National Collegiate Athletic Association began sponsoring women’s championships) and made 11 consecutive NCAA Championship appearances. She was twice named the South East Conference (SEC) Women’s Gymnastics Coach of the Year (1989, 1992).

Internationally, Russell was an assistant coach for the U.S. women’s team at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, head coach at the 1978 World Championships and the 1977 and 1985 World University Games, and was named head coach of the U.S. Olympic women’s team for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow (boycotted).

Russell was inducted into the Canadian Amateur Athletic Hall of Fame in 1960 and the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1986.