Linda Metheny Mulvihill

Director, Coach, Choreographer

• 3 time Olympic All Around Competitor -- 1964 Tokyo, 1968 Mexico, 1972 Munich
• The first American woman gymnast to make the Olympic Event Finals
• 5 time National Elite All Around Champion, AAU and USGF
• 9 years on the National Team
• 2 World Championship Teams
• 7 Gold Medals at the Pan American Games
• Collegiate All Around Champion
• USGF Gymnast of the Year
• Her first National title was on the uneven bar, but she was generally known for her balance beam and floor exercise routines

Coaching

• Began coaching in 1973 with the opening of the National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics
• Co-coached American and foreign gymnasts who made the 1976, 1980, 1984, and 1992 Olympic teams and many World Championship teams
• USGF Choreographer of the Year
• USGF Co-Coach of the Year with her husband Dick Mulvihill

Judging

• Brevet Judge since 1989
• Judged 1994 World Championships, Dortmund, Germany
• Judged 1995 World Championships, Sabae, Japan
• Judged 1996 Olympics, Atlanta, United States
• Judged 2000 Olympics, Sydney, Australia
• Judged 2000 World Cup Finals, Glasgow, Scotland
• Judged 2002 World Championships, Debrecen, Hungary
• Judged 2003 World Championships, Anaheim, United States
  Judged World Championships through 2007
• And Many More Honered Events into this year

School

Graduated with honors as a James Scholar at the University of Illinois with a BA and and MA in Fine and Applied Arts

Family

Linda and Dick have three children, Doni-Jo (Jojo), David, and Matthew. All three did gymnastics when they were younger and then went into diving, baseball, and soccer, respectively.

Craig Bayer
Optional Team Girls

It’s hard to believe that 10 years have passed since Coach Craig arrived to begin his work here as a coach for our students at the Academy. Originally from Rochester, New York, Craig received his Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from the University of Binghamton in New York. While in college, he competed for the University’s Men’s Gymnastics Team as an All-Around competitor. His favorite events were Parallel Bars and Pommel Horse. Before coming out west to further his education at the University of Oregon, Craig owned his own business. Craig is earning a double major at the U of O in Education and Human Physiology. His love of gymnastics never left him, however, and he was able to combine his enthusiasm for the sport with his educational goals by relocating to Eugene/Springfield, the University of Oregon, and the National Academy.

Over the last 10 years, all of us at the Academy have come to know Coach Craig as a dedicated and loyal employee and friend. In addition to his coaching and many other duties, he has been a mainstay in the success of our Emerald Team Challenge each year, taking on the responsibility of organizing all the necessary equipment transport, set-up, and tear down for this enormous undertaking. In addition he has made himself available for this same duty with all of our smaller competitions. He has also accompanied our traveling gymnasts and parents to State, Regional and National competitions, always keeping the best interest of the athletes at the forefront.

Yuriyy Panfilov
Optional Team Coach

By Way of Welcome . . . Coach Yuriyy has been with us at the Academy for only a few short months, and it seems that this was meant to be! Everyone at the Academy is proud and happy that he has chosen to join our team of coaches. As a young gymnast in the former Soviet Union , Yuriyy received the best of training, alongside his friend and teammate Valery Liukin (World and Olympic Champion.) With his own fine career as an athlete, his superior education in the former Soviet Union , his attainment of “Master of Sport”, and his subsequent coaching successes, the Academy could not have found a better qualified coach anywhere. Yuriy was a member of the National Team during his athletic career, and as a coach he trained athletes (both girls and boys) for his native Kazakhstan . He was Head Coach for Kazakhstan ’s Team at many international competitions, including the World Championships in 2003. He arrived in Eugene/Springfield last fall with his two daughters, Kate and Sasha, who have also been welcome additions to the Academy. The Panfilova sisters have many accomplishments and awards to their credit, including several at elite international competitions (Asian Games and Kazakhstan ’s National Championships.) All of us; gymnasts, staff, and parents alike couldn't be more pleased that Coach Yuriy, Kate, and Sasha have become part of the Academy family. The Academy’s rich history will undoubtedly be reflected in a great future.

Jojo Mulvihill
Recreation Director

Donijo (Jojo) Mulvihill, as the eldest child of Academy founders Dick and Linda Mulvihill, literally grew up spending much of her time at the gym! As a youngster she participated in gymnastics training and competed on the Academy’s girls teams up to level 8. During teenage years, she chose to put her gymnastics training to good use in the sport of diving. She participated at the club level, and she also competed for South Eugene High School, winning many awards. She was a regional qualifier twice in the Junior Olympic Program. Jojo has vast experience with children having run several after school programs for both elementary and kindergartners and teaching in a Montessori School. She also has many years of teaching experience in different sports including swimming, diving, children's movement and snow boarding . Jojo studied Business Administration/Marketing and Creative Writing at The University of Massachusetts/Amherst whereby she finished her Business studies with a Bachelor’s Degree in 2002. After graduation she spent a couple years working professionally in a local marketing firm before deciding to enter back into the world of gymnastics. Also noteworthy was Jojo’s qualification into a select group from Cirque du Soleil auditions in 2000. After auditioning with hundreds of other hopefuls, she was one of 15 selected to train with Cirque du Soleil for professional placement in their water based show “O”. Jojo has also traveled extensively, having made trips to Europe ( Iceland and Ireland), as well as most of the countries of both Central and South America. Returning to The Academy in 2005 her gift for working with children has given a boost to the Academy’s preschool and after school recreation programs. In addition to her many administrative duties as Recreation Director, she also coaches classes from preschool through Beginning Girls Team.

David Mulvihill
Boys & Girls Coach

As the eldest son of Academy founders Linda and Dick Mulvihill, David’s involvement at the Academy began at birth! A talented athlete from the beginning, David trained in gymnastics through grade school years. He excelled in the sport and won many state titles (Floor Ex, Rings, Parallel bars, and High Bar.) David participated in many other sports throughout middle and high school, notably wrestling and baseball. Eventually focusing on baseball, David played for South Eugene and North Eugene League Championship team as their starting catcher. He was voted Most Inspirational member of the Highlander team. After graduation in 1999, he earned a scholarship to Modesto Junior College in California where he majored in Physical Education, Recreation, and Health and was the starting catcher for 2 years. During summer breaks in Eugene, he played for the Eugene Challengers. In the spring of 2001 David was heading into another year at Modesto when the news came about his father’s illness. David returned to Eugene/Springfield immediately to help with whatever was needed in the days following Director Dick Mulvihill’s illness and recovery. He has become a mainstay at the Academy, leading his boys’ teams to competitions around the State, and he is also a favorite instructor for many recreational level students at the Academy, from little Gyminicrickets in preschool classes to Boys Beginners to Trampoline and Tumbling enthusiasts!

Bryan Rowe
Boys Team Coach

Bryan is an Academy-trained gymnast, having enrolled here as a young child in 1986. He trained at the Academy for 11 years, reaching USAG level 10. Bryan was a top competitor who became a multiple-time State Champion and a 6-time National qualifier.
After graduation from Thurston High School in 1997, he attended Arizona State University where he joined the Men’s Gymnastics Team. There he earned multiple All-American titles, as well as 2002 Men’s All-Around Champion, 2003 National Pommel Horse Champion, 2002 USA Gymnastics Most-Outstanding Senior Gymnast. Bryan graduated from ASU in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science Degree (major: Kinesiology; minor: Business.)
Since graduation Bryan has worked as a gymnastics performer in production shows aboard a cruise ship, and he recently completed his Master’s of Teaching with emphasis in Secondary Physical Education at Pacific University.

All of us at the Academy are very happy to have Brian back with us again as part of the Academy Staff!

Ekaterina Ivanova (Katya) has joined the Academy coaching staff! Katya is originally from Bulgaria , where she trained and competed in Artistic Gymnastics until the age of 13, when she switched to Rhythmic Gymnastics. She became a member of Bulgaria ’s Rhythmic Gymnastics National Team, and she competed internationally for several years at the major competitions worldwide. At the same time that she was competing, she was also serving as an instructor in Rhythmic Gymnastics with the Bulgarian Sports Club, CSKA where she also served as team choreographer. After retiring from competition, Katya accepted a college-level teaching position in the field of Physical Culture and simultaneously served as the college’s rhythmic gymnastics team coach. Her team competed in the Collegiate National Championship, placing 3 rd. She was awarded the title “Senior Teacher.” After immigrating to the USA Katya has worked for the past 12 years as a gymnastics instructor for the City of Eugene , bringing many youngsters into the sport. She has sent many a young student to the Academy after they completed their beginning training in the city’s program. In the mid-90’s Katya coached a rhythmic team for the Academy, and they were very successful in their competitions. More recently Katya has coached her own Rhythmic Club Team, Prima Rhythmic Gymnastics, here in Eugene , and several of her students have qualified for and competed in Rhythmic Nationals. Katya has two children; George, who lives in Eugene , and Julia, who lives in Long Beach , CA . We are very fortunate to have Katya with us at the Academy again!

Katrina King

Girls Level 5

Michele Laughlin

Pre-Teams and Level 4

Michele Laughlin was born into a military family in Lee Hall, Virginia , but at the tender age of 4 her family moved west to Southern California . Michele is a gifted dancer, and she received dance training throughout her childhood and teenage years. After graduation from Quartz Hill High School , she attended Antelope Valley Community College for a period of time before taking a position with a business located in Orange County . It was during this time that she met her future husband, Michael. Michele also had her own dance troupe, Children of the Light, a Christian group who performed in parades and other venues for a period of 6 years. As she and her husband started their family, which eventually grew to 4 children (Josh, Autumn, Summer, and Mackinsey), she took on the task of home-schooling her children. It was during this time that Michele was drawn into the gymnastics world through her children’s involvement in the sport at a Southern California Club, AV Twisters. In 1995 the family relocated to Eugene/Springfield, and became members of the National Academy . With two daughters on the competitive team, the Laughlins were ace-volunteers for the Academy. Michele began coaching for the Academy, and was promoted to Assistant Recreation Director. Sadly, in 2005, Michele’s husband, Michael, passed away very suddenly. Michael was a friend to all, and we miss him dearly. Presently in her capacity as Assistant Rec. Director, Michele coaches many recreation classes for girls and boys. She is also the Head Coach for Girls Pre-Team and Girls Level 4 Team, and her level 4 teams have enjoyed great success, earning the Sectional Team Championship a total of 8 times (and counting!) .

Lindsay Miller
Girls Level 4

Academy Level 4 coach Lindsay Miller is a long time member of the Academy family! Originally from Apple Valley , California , Lindsay moved to the Willamette Valley with her family at 1 year of age. While she dabbled in gymnastics as a 3-year-old toddler, she enrolled at the Academy at the grand old age of 5! Lindsay advanced through the competition levels during her years at the Academy, reaching level 8 before an injury prevented her from continuing. She was State Balance Beam Champion, and Beam was always her favorite event. Lindsay was enrolled continuously at the Academy from age 5 through age 15, and she was a devoted student and team member. Her gymnastics training came in handy during her high school athletic career, where she put her athletic talents to good use as a star member of her high school volleyball team. She also competed at the college level, earning many academic and athletic honors including Dean’s List (4x), Academic All-Conference Team Member, and Player of the Week. Lindsay graduated Cum Laude from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho and that year was selected at Female Athlete of the Year and Most Valuable Player. After graduation Lindsay traveled through Western Europe on a 27-day excursion, and when she returned home and discovered an opportunity to return to the Academy as a coach, she quickly accepted. We are all very pleased to have Lindsay back with us again. Her years of Academy training, as well as her many other outstanding accomplishments, make her an outstanding addition to our staff!

Ann Nelson
Girls Level 3

Nathan Shay
Boys Coach

Coach Nathan Shay grew up in Oregon , spending his early years in the Salem area. He started gymnastics training at a young age at the Salem YMCA program, and he advanced through the recreation levels very quickly. He was coached at the “Y” by Leonard Spivey. When he was approaching middle school age, he moved with his family to the Tualatin area and began training at Westside Academy in Tigard. There was trained by Coaches Dave Kline, Lee Pinkstaff, and Todd Fitzgerald. Nathan enjoyed and excelled at competition, becoming State Champion at both Class IV and Class III. He advanced through the USAG levels to Class II at a young age. He was a 4–time Regional Qualifier, and he traveled to Washington , Alaska , Idaho , and Montana as a regional competitor. Nathan remembers seeing the Academy’s team at competitions during those years, and he also remembers that NAAG’s gymnasts were very good! During high school years, Nathan retired from gymnastics to pursue other goals at Tualatin High School . Nathan was a member of Future Business Leadersof America, and he was a 3-year varsity wrestler and 3-year member of varsity football, earning PAC-West All–League honors in football as a senior. In addition he was the 2-time District weightlifting champion at both welterweight and middleweight classes. Nathan graduated in 2004 and is currently pursuing his college degree (major in Political Science) in Eugene . His work at the Academy began during the 2005 -2006 academic year, and during that time he coached all levels of classes for boys. All of us at the Academy appreciate having someone with Coach Nathan’s background in gymnastics and the world of sport in general as a part of our staff. His intensity and dedication serve as an excellent model for the Academy’s young athletes.

Dick Mulvihill, Head Coach Emeritus

Dick co-founded the National Academy with Linda in 1973.

Dick was a U.S. Olympic Women’s Gymnastics assistant coach in Mexico City in 1968, in Munich in 1972, and in Montreal in 1976.
Since opening the Academy in Eugene, he and Linda have trained 17 Olympians, and over 50 National Champions.

Dick is now retired from coaching, but this web page would not be complete without him.

We Love You Dick!!!