GYMNASTICS ASSOCIATION
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ASSOCIATION
The gymnastics Federation of Nigeria established in 1975 under the chairmanship of Dr. A.T. Oduyale. The federation made its initial progress by producing very young gymnast, but three years after, it was put to sleep.
Subsequently, in 1980, the National Sports Commission in Nigeria dissolved the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria with other sporting federation under the commission.
In 1984, Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria had a re-birth and was subsequently reconstituted under the chairmanship of Mr. E. Ladapo. But while trying to set the Gymnastics Federation as a strong footing, death snatched him away, making way for Alhaji Ibrahim Danwama in 1985 to assume the chairmanship position of the federation but death struck again. Thus, he did not witness the 1st National Gymnastics Championship, which he planned to sponsor in full.
In 1989, Gymnastics was made a scoring event at the National Sports Festival in Lagos.
In 1996, when Bayelsa State was created, Gymnastics Association was among the sports that came to Bayelsa State from Rivers State under the chairmanship of Mrs. Mabintin and Miss Catherine Sasoude as the First Coach of the Association but did not feature the Imo ’98 Sports Festival.
Gymnastics been a peculiar sport that was not so popular then in the country and the state made the Association swing into action to create awareness of the sport by going to schools for talent hunt. Gymnastics
Association was among the sports that came to Bayelsa State from Rivers State under the chairmanship of Mrs. Mabintin and Miss Catherine Sasoude as the First Coach of the Association but did not feature the Imo ’98 Sports Festival.Gymnastics been a peculiar sport that was not so popular then in the country and the state made the Association swing into action to create awareness of the sport by going to schools for talent hunt.
And some of Schools visited were St peter Anglican School Obele, Bishop Dimiary Grammar school Ovom and St Jude’s Girls Secondary School, Amarata to mention but a few. With the help of the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria (GFN) the association organized a one day Training Program for Game Masters and Mistresses from all the 8 LGA’s to create more awareness in their various Schools which helped in the development of the sport in the State.
And discovered that the State is blessed with Natural Talents but the biggest obstacle faced was the lack of Training Equipment and Facility which we are still facing till now.
And this has led to numerous injuries and casualties, one of which claimed the life of our fast rising gymnast by name Promise Appah amidst his preparation for 2018 National Sports Festival Abuja.
OUR VISION
MISSION STATEMENT
To use the Sport of Gymnastics as a crosscutting tool in the physical, mental, psychological and moral development of youngsters to become podium hopefuls not only in the field of sports but in all sectors that contribute to the development in Bayelsa State.
The objectives of the Association include:
AchievementsIn 2000, National Sport Festival Bauchi was Bayelsa state Gymnastics Association 1st festival, and placed over all 4th position in the Team Event. After which she featured in the Kada Games 2002, Abuja 2004, without winning any medal till Garden city 2011 where Ifiemeya Ototo won his 1st Silver Medal for the State with Mrs. Victoria Ogeh as the secretary.
In 2018, National sports festival Abuja Samuel Olorufemi Adeyemi won a silver medal and also 1n 2020 National sports festival Edo Michael Ayo Fadoju won two Silver medals.
Our greatest achievement was in the just concluded Festival in Asaba 2022 where we won one Gold, four Silver and three Bronze medals with Mrs. Rita I.B. Resident as the Secretary and Mr. Stephen Soyimiegha as the Coach.
MEDAL TABLE FROM THE CREATION OF THE STATE TILL DATE 2023
| S/N | NAME | YEAR | EVENT | MEDALS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IFIEMEYA OTOTO | NSF 2012 | FLOOR EXERCISE | SILVER |
| 2 | SAMUEL OLORUFEMI ADEYEMI | NSF 2018 | RINGS | SILVER |
| 3 | MICHEAL AYO FADOJU | NSF 2020 | VAULT | SILVER |
| 4 | MICHEAL AYO FADOJU | NSF 2020 | DMT | SILVER |
| 5 | ANTHONY PEREMOBOWEI | NYG 6TH EDITION 2021 | POWER TUMBLING | SILVER |
| 6 | VICTORIA OKOROTIE | NYG 2017 | FLOOR EXERCISE | BRONZE |
| 7 | RUFUS FAVOUR | NSF 2022 | POWER TUMBLING MEN | GOLD |
| 8 | JENNIFER AKOR | NSF 2022 | POWER TUMBLING WOMEN | SILVER |
| 9 | JENNIFER AKOR | NSF 2022 | DMT | SILVER |
| 10 | SAMUEL OLORUFEMI ADEYEMI | NSF 2022 | HIGH BAR | SILVER |
| 11 | VICTORY ABEL | NSF 2022 | AEROBICS MIXED DOUBLE | SILVER |
| 12 | SAMUEL OLORUFEMI ADEYEMI | NSF 2022 | RINGS | BRONZE |
| 13 | COLLINS EKEMU | NSF 2022 | AEROBICS MIXED DOUBLE | SILVER |
| 14 | RUFUS FAVOUR | NSF 2022 | DMT | BRONZE |
| 15 | MICHEAL FADOJU | NSF 2022 | TEAM EVENT FOR ARTISTIC MEN | BRONZE |
| 16 | SINIZIBE ODEKE | NSF 2022 | TEAM EVENT FOR ARTISTIC MEN | BRONZE |
| 17 | ADEYEMI OLORUFEMI SAMUEL | NSF 2022 | TEAM EVENT FOR ARTISTICS MEN | BRONZE |
| 18 | RUFUS FAVOUR | NSF 2022 | TEAM EVENT FOR ARTISTICS MEN | BRONZE |
| 19 | AWOKUNLE DAVID | NSF 2022 | TEAM EVENT FOR ARTISTICS MEN | BRONZE |
PRINCIPAL OFFICERS
| NAMES | DESIGNATION |
|---|---|
| RITA I.B. RESIDENT | THE SECRETARY |
| STEPHEN SOYIMIEGHA | HEAD COACH |
| IFIEMEYA OTOTO | ASSISTANT COACH |
| CATHERINE SASUODE | TECHNICAL OFFICIAL/HOD COACHING |
CHALLENGES
The Association lacks gymnasium and training equipment, this is a major set back as a result of which we lost in four apparatus (parallel bar, uneven bar, beam and pommel horse) in the just concluded National Sports Festival 2022 as our athletes are not conversant with them. We also lack stadium assistants and employed coaches
APPRECIATION
And in all we will like to appreciate all those gymnasts that started with us, we couldn’t have gone this far without you guys, Gymnasts like Nation Ogogo, late Coach Munasegha Telemo, Sobokime Yelebe , Tekena Eradiri, Tina Eradiri, Coach Perez, Victory Okorotie , Sophia Youpele W, Tamko Cyrille, Hamza Gambo, John Imo and co, Dada Hope and Osita etc .And also our 2nd Chairman Mr Aye Dikuro the Mightyman for making Gymnastics relivent in the council in his regime as the chairman and also introducing Calisthenics Display in the state in 2010 and 2011 to celebrate the independence day of country at 50 and the creation of the state at 14. And every other person we could not mention we say a big Thank you to you all.
