Vladmir Lashin has resigned as Canada's women's national team coach, according to a release put out Tuesday by Gymnastics Canada Gymnastique.
Lashin, who coaches Olympic hopeful Brittany Rogers with his wife Svetlana at Omega Gymnastics Academy in British Columbia, became national team coach in June 2009. He formerly coached Charlotte Mackie, who announced she was changing gyms just before Lashin was named national coach. Mackie now trains with David Kenwright at Club Aviva in British Columbia.
Lashin's appointment last year was greeted with some dismay, as gymnastics pundits accused him of some of the more disreputable Soviet-bloc training methods.
Around the time Lashin was named National coach, Mackie gave an interview to International Gymnastics Magazine where she explained her decision to change gyms by saying: "I switched clubs because I needed a different approach to coaching and training, a different coaching style. Although every coach who has worked with me has helped me in some way, I want to be able to love gymnastics for all of my life and hope to continue my elite career for another three or more years, or possibly longer."
During last month's Canadian Championships in Kamloops, the high performance coaches held a meeting and unanimously voted no confidence in Lashin (44-0). It seems likely that Gymnastics Canada felt compelled to act after the coaches also put their dissatisfaction in writing.
The Gymnastics Canada press release does its best to give Lashin an honorable discharge:
It is with regrets that Gymnastics Canada is announcing the departure of Vladimir Lashin, National Coach/High Performance Director in Women's Artistic Gymnastics since June 2009, for personal reasons.
During his one year term, Vladimir Lashin has provided valuable services to the Women's Artistic Gymnastics National Teams and Gymnastics Canada. His expertise, energy and commitment were greatly appreciated by the Canadian gymnastics community.
Vladimir Lashin's role and responsibilities as the GCG National Coach/High Performance Director ended on June 15, 2010. A short term plan to address the immediate WAG National Team needs will be developed and communicated as soon as possible.
The Canadians are very concerned with qualifying a full women's team to the 2012 Olympics. Obviously some felt that Lashin might not get the job done.
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Comments
Finally...he was CRAP!!!
he will still train athletes at omega... they just lost a coach.. he will replace her!
From what I've heard, Omega is hard-pressed to survive given their financial situation. They barely have a recreation program and several girls have left. IMO, that gym needs to dissolve and put away the archaic, old-school, abusive nature of coaching that has been so obvious since him and his wife began there in 2001. Canadian gymnastics doesn't need them. I hope it isn't too late for the remaining girls to see the light and get the H out of there.
I wonder why Charlotte was given so much of an opinion and press space? I recall that Vladimir coached her older sister, Gael, to the Olympic team and a NCAA scholarship, then coached Charlotte up to the Senior National Team level. Did Charlotte have great results under David this year? By the way- they have switched gyms and are now at Club Aviva, not Surrey.
If all the HP coaches voted and the "vote" was an unanimous 44-0 does that mean his wife and friends voted against him? I doubt it!!
Gee Sparky how many rumors can you start with one post? You forgot to mention that all clubs have girls leave and others start each year. I haven't heard of any of Omega's high level gymnasts leaving. Besides what is relevant about rumors of a club's apparent finances and rec program when the topic is one of a coach resignation? IMO it sounds more like plain Omega bashing to me. What other BC club has as many national team members? Of the girls that left Omega how many had a successful year?
You're right, me. It is absolutely worth noting that Lashin coached Gael Mackie, who just completed her junior year at Utah, as well as Charlotte. I've also changed Kenwright's club to Club Aviva. -- Blythe
Valdimir Lashin is well known to be abusive to his athletes, not allowing water breaks in training sessions, and weighing them on a regular basis. Hope he's done and leaves the sport.
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