Karen Kelsall
Encyclopedia
Dr. Karen Kelsall is a chiropractor
and a retired Canadian gymnast
and dancer. She was the youngest competitor at the 1976 Summer Olympics
in Montreal
, and was one of the first Canadian gymnasts to attract attention from the international gymnastics community.
Although she was born in Canada, Kelsall spent a fair amount of her gymnastics career training in the United States
. She trained in Oregon under coaches Dick and Linda Mulvihill, who at the time were perfecting a form of gymnastics training that incorporated video recordings and mechanical spotting equipment. She was the junior Canadian national champion in 1976, the senior National Champion in 1977 and 1980, and the British Columbian champion in 1977. She represented Canada at various international competitions from 1975 through 1980, including the 1975 Pan Am Games, where she placed thirteenth in the all-around; the 1977 American Cup
, where she was the all-around bronze medalist; the 1978 World Championships
and the 1978 Commonwealth Games
, where she was a member of the gold medal-winning Canadian team and tied for the bronze medal in the all-around.
In 1976, the thirteen year old Kelsall placed third at the Canadian Olympic Trials. FIG regulations at the time required gymnasts to be fourteen years old by the start of the Olympics. The Canadian Gymnastics Federation applied for, and received, a special exception for Kelsall to compete, because she would turn fourteen by the end of the year. At the Olympics, Kelsall placed a modest 27th in the all-around, but was a key member of the ninth-place Canadian team.
Canada participated in the Olympic boycott of 1980, and as such, Kelsall did not have the opportunity to attend a second Olympic Games. She moved on to college, where she competed as an NCAA gymnast for the University of California, Berkeley
for four years.
After her undergraduate work and a brief career as a professional dancer, Kelsall returned to university. She is currently a chiropractor
in the Pacific Northwest, with additional certification in massage therapy and other modalities.
Kelsall originated an element on balance beam, the Kelsall Stretch. The skill is a flexibility move that is performed on the beam by standing on one foot while performing a split and grabbing the other leg from behind.
Chiropractor
A Chiropractor, according to the Association of Chiropractic Colleges , "focuses on the relationship between the body's main structures – the skeleton, the muscles and the nerves – and the patient's health. Chiropractors believe that health can be improved and preserved by making adjustments to...
and a retired Canadian gymnast
Gymnast
Gymnasts are people who participate in the sports of either artistic gymnastics, trampolining, or rhythmic gymnastics.See gymnasium for the origin of the word gymnast from gymnastikos.-Female artistic:Australia...
and dancer. She was the youngest competitor at the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, and was one of the first Canadian gymnasts to attract attention from the international gymnastics community.
Although she was born in Canada, Kelsall spent a fair amount of her gymnastics career training in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She trained in Oregon under coaches Dick and Linda Mulvihill, who at the time were perfecting a form of gymnastics training that incorporated video recordings and mechanical spotting equipment. She was the junior Canadian national champion in 1976, the senior National Champion in 1977 and 1980, and the British Columbian champion in 1977. She represented Canada at various international competitions from 1975 through 1980, including the 1975 Pan Am Games, where she placed thirteenth in the all-around; the 1977 American Cup
American Cup
The American Cup was the first major U.S. soccer competition open to teams beyond a single league. It was first held in 1885. In the 1910s, it gradually declined in importance with the establishment of the National Challenge Cup...
, where she was the all-around bronze medalist; the 1978 World Championships
1978 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
The 19th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships were held in Strasbourg, France, in 1978 from October 23 to October 29.The new rule was introduced: eight gymnasts competed in each of the apparatus finals....
and the 1978 Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
, where she was a member of the gold medal-winning Canadian team and tied for the bronze medal in the all-around.
In 1976, the thirteen year old Kelsall placed third at the Canadian Olympic Trials. FIG regulations at the time required gymnasts to be fourteen years old by the start of the Olympics. The Canadian Gymnastics Federation applied for, and received, a special exception for Kelsall to compete, because she would turn fourteen by the end of the year. At the Olympics, Kelsall placed a modest 27th in the all-around, but was a key member of the ninth-place Canadian team.
Canada participated in the Olympic boycott of 1980, and as such, Kelsall did not have the opportunity to attend a second Olympic Games. She moved on to college, where she competed as an NCAA gymnast for the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
for four years.
After her undergraduate work and a brief career as a professional dancer, Kelsall returned to university. She is currently a chiropractor
Chiropractor
A Chiropractor, according to the Association of Chiropractic Colleges , "focuses on the relationship between the body's main structures – the skeleton, the muscles and the nerves – and the patient's health. Chiropractors believe that health can be improved and preserved by making adjustments to...
in the Pacific Northwest, with additional certification in massage therapy and other modalities.
Kelsall originated an element on balance beam, the Kelsall Stretch. The skill is a flexibility move that is performed on the beam by standing on one foot while performing a split and grabbing the other leg from behind.