1957
Marta Selmeczi came to Canada.
1960 – 64
Started the YMCA Children’s Artistic Program – the gymnasts performed but did not compete.
During this period, Marta returned home to Hungary for visits. The new European Modern Gymnastics Federation had been formed after the 1956 Olympics and Marta met a member of this Federation, Mme. Abad. During these visits home, Marta learned a lot about the sport of Modern Gymnastics.
1966
Came to St. Catherines and began working as a volunteer coach at “Club Heidelberg”.
The artistic gymnasts at the ‘Y’, “Olympiquettes” began competing. Some of the talented girls from “Club Heidelberg” also joined this club.
At the Ontario YMCA Championships the gymnasts of the club won 15 categories, while competing against 65 other gymnasts.
1968
Marta attended a summer course at York University, organized by the OGF. Leaders were Dr. Taylor and Anne Letheren.
Hired by Niagara District Secondary School as a part-time Phys. Ed. teacher. There she began the very first Modern Gymnastics (now called rhythmic gymnastics) program in the area, together with an Artistic Gymnastics program (and a fitness program). They were all very successful and she became well-known.
Started an annual Gymnaestrada in the area, inviting other schools to participate.
1969
Was one of the founding members of the Ontario Modern Gymnastics Federation and (later) also of the National Federation with Evelyn Koop as President of both organizations.
Marta continued as a member also of the Technical Committee, elected in 1982.
The photo (on the right) is from an occasion when the committee had a meeting at a farm belonging to one of the other members, Sandy Smith. After digging up the potatoes, Evelyn Koop (left) and Marta Selmeczi (middle) got to take the vegetables home. A productive meeting!
1970
Marta convinced the Lincoln Board of Education to invite world-class Hungarian gymnast Maria Patocska (5th at the World Championships) to Canada.
In this photo of the Doija Club group at the Hungarian Championships 1970, Maria is in the middle, in the front row.
1971
Maria Patocska arrived and conducted a modern gymnastics clinic for Southern Ontario teachers and also participated in the Niagara District Secondary School annual Gymnaestrada. Marta advised Evelyn Koop of Kalev about Maria’s visit and Mrs. Koop brought Maria on a tour of the provinces to introduce the sport to a wider audience.
Later that year, the first National competition was held in Toronto and Marta’s team won gold in both the free and the rhythm stick events.
1972
The first Artistic and Rhythmic Gymnastics club in the Peninsula was registered by Mr. and Mrs. Selmeczi: Lincoln Gymnastics Club for girls and Marta served as Head Coach of both sections for 20 years.
The same year, Madame Ivanka Tchakarova from Bulgaria gave the first judging course in Canada and Marta Selmeczi graduated with the highest score of the group.
The artistic team earned numerous Regional Championships titles and All-Around Provincial titles on various levels. In 1973, Peggy Campbell became the first Ontario Champion in artistic gymnastics. Brenda Hawrylow, won the Canadian Elite High School Championships in Calgary 1976 and, in 1978, Celia Fenig competed with the Ontario team in Puerto Rico and with the Canadian team and the Maccabia Games in Israel.
The rhythmic gymnasts won more than ten individual all around titles and numerous medals for individual apparatus in national events, and were the first ever to reach the finals on the international level and earned a very respectable reputation for Canada. Seven of them went to the RG World Championships and participated in a total of 10 RG Worlds from 1973 to 1991. They also competed at several Four Continents and Pan-American Championships.
Her gymnast, Donna Cadwell won the first all-around Ontario Championship in the senior advanced category and also made the Modern Gymnastics National Team in 1973.
In 1974 Kelly Moligian won the first all-around Canadian title, getting gold in every event.
In the photo below, all the girls are champions, with the exception of Marta’s daughter (the little girl in front)
Patricia Wong, Cathy Wong, Ann-Marie Wong.
1991
Mrs. Selmeczi formed the first all rhythmic sportive gymnastics club in the Niagara peninsula: The Rhythmic Waves Gymnastics Club.
1994
An Hungarian quarterly RG magazine published an article about Marta Selmeczi – link HERE.
1996
Marta travelled with other Ontario coaches and judges to Finland to observe the first International Women’s Group Gymnastics Competition – a new sport, later called Aesthetic Group Gymnastics (AGG)
Annely Riga and her team of gymnasts
1997
Rhythmic Waves were the champions in the young teens category at the first “Red Ribbon” competition, which is a Provincial AGG event.
2000
Rhythmic Waves competed at the first AGG World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, and placed 5th of 26 teams from 11 countries!
2003
Personal Awards and Recognition for Marta Selmeczi
1979
Received the Ten Years Service Ontario Federation Gold Medal for Pioneering Rhythmic Gymnastics.
1980
Received the Ten Years Service Ontario Federation Gold Medal for Pioneering Rhythmic Gymnastics.
1991
Received the Honour Award for the Canadian RSG Federation at the Montreal National Championships.
Received the Certificate of Sport Achievement from the City of St. Catharines.
Served as a member of the RSG National High Performance Committee, supported by Sports Canada.
Coached at the National Training Centre (Toronto) as invited guest coach.
Canadian Team Coach at several Gymnastics Meets.
Completed two International Judging courses and has judged several times internationally.
1994
Received the Ontario Gymnastics Federation Recognition Award for her years of service to the sport.
1997
Awarded the Ontario Gymnastics Federation Long Service Diamond Pin Award for 25 years of service.
2005
Received the Gymnastics Ontario Life Membership Award in recognition of her years of dedication, service and tremendous contribution to the sport of gymnastics.
2006
Received a Diploma from the IFAGG from Finland for 10 years of continuous participation and support of the sport.
2016
Received the Gymnastics Canada Life Membership Award in recognition of her time and efforts for many years to further develop and grow the sport of gymnastics from the community-level through to international competition. Her granddaughter, Kyla Selmeczi, accepted the award on Marta’s behalf from CGC President and CEO, Peter Nicol, at the CGC Annual Meeting in Ottawa
At the time of the AGM, Marta was visiting Hungary, where a great number of friends and gymnastics dignitaries had gathered to celebrate the occasion with her!
Two applications for the GCG Life Membership Award were made, one from club members and one from the previous webmaster. (Click on links to read!)
2019
2020
We need to add that the whole gymnastics community in the area will be missing Ernest. Through his steadfast support of his wife, he enabled so many young girls to enjoy a great sport, the joy of performing, competing and winning, both nationally and internationally. His “job” was registration and financial control of the clubs, but he also supported and encouraged the gymnasts and was a great friend to them and their families. We miss him!