Ask Whistler Gymnastics coach Tami Mitchell to discuss her longtime friend and colleague, Karin Jarratt, and the words “gymnastics freak” quickly come to mind.
“I would describe her as the most dedicated, enthusiastic person,” Mitchell elaborated. “No matter where she lived in the world, she would make sure that there was a gymnastics club, or she would coach kids.”
The Sea to Sky has been fortunate that Jarratt chose to put down roots here and be a driving force on the local gymnastics scene for 33 years. Her athletes love her. Her coworkers love her. Many people have many things to say about her praiseworthy service to the community.
Alas, all good things must come to an end. On June 21, Whistler Gymnastics officially bid their head coach and facilities manager farewell.
“We are so fortunate that we attract coaches from around the world who keep showing up and adding their influence to our gym,” Jarratt remarked about retirement. “I do as much as I can by being a good role model, but I'm happy to say I'm leaving behind a gym that's really well set up. The equipment is safe and clean. It has a good reputation, and there are people who will ensure that the program keeps moving forward.”
Meaghan Smith, who has coached in Whistler for about four years, is one of several promising talents who have matured under Jarratt’s wing.
“I was young and inexperienced, and Karin really helped guide me through what the club values,” said the Manitoba native. “We want to support every athlete that we can … and she really emphasized that. Karin has brought Whistler Gymnastics to where it is now.”
‘The thing I have to do’
Born in Berlin, Jarratt grew up in Prince George. The trajectory of her life changed in 1976 as she watched Nadia Comăneci win five medals (including three golds) as the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0 during an Olympic contest. Jarratt fell in love with the Romanian icon’s exploits and knew she’d discovered her true passion.
Comăneci was, at that point, 14: one year older than Jarratt when she made her own (relatively late) entry into gymnastics.
Quickly picking up the skills of her new sport, Jarratt was happy to pass on knowledge and began mentoring younger athletes by her mid-teens. She worked as a photographer by day, but remained a coach by night.
“Coaching has rarely been full-time for me,” said Jarratt. “It’s always been the thing I have to do.”
At the turn of the 1990s, there was already a teacher-led gymnastics program at the old Myrtle Philip school. Jarratt got involved immediately and was on staff when the club became a proper nonprofit organization. That meant eligibility for government grants, which translated into more resources.
Whistler Gymnastics levelled up again after the 2010 Olympic Games by acquiring a legacy training facility now known as the Oros Centre: one wing of the Athletes Centre in Cheakamus Crossing. The building came pre-equipped with foam and trampoline pits, and the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation contributed substantial funding for additional equipment.
Many athletes and organizations have undergone dryland training at Oros, including, at one point, the Canadian men’s downhill ski team.
“We've been super lucky,” Jarratt said. “The community has really rallied around our sport. Athletes from all over the world go to the Canadian Sport Institute gym and they have to pass by our main window. They all pause, look in and ask their coaches: ‘can we play in here instead? This looks way more fun.’”
‘I will always keep them safe’
Jarratt is all about fun, positivity and fruitful growth.
She certainly pushes her pupils, especially when she knows they’ve got more to give. At the same time, she maintains a healthy environment in which athletes can be sure of their well-being.
“Karin spreads her love of gymnastics to the individuals she coaches and develops good citizens,” Mitchell commented. “It's not about reaching the Olympics. It's about building good people.”
Explains Jarratt: “My number one priority is relationship. Because I teach competitive athletes, I don't feel it's fair to ask them to risk themselves without trusting me first. They know that I will always keep them safe. My promise is that I'll never ask them to do something they can't do … but I'll challenge them so they're not bored.”
It’s a sound approach. Gymnastics is viewed by many as a foundational sport that offers the agility, flexibility, endurance and overall physical literacy needed to excel at many other disciplines. Mix in Jarratt’s holistic coaching philosophy, and you get a number of locals who hold their own in skiing, biking, soccer, et cetera.
And while gymnastics results contain an element of subjectivity owing to the presence of judges, club members are trained to set realistic and personalized goals each year instead of merely going for the podium.
When it comes to dealing with other coaches, Jarratt is no backseat driver. Instead, she grants them autonomy when they prove themselves capable.
“Karin is there for guidance,” elaborated Smith. “This was my first year coaching a fully competitive group by myself. She always told me: ‘this is your program. You are the facilitator of this group.’ She did let me fail and figure things out on my own, which I truly appreciate because that's what you need to do, but she was always there to lend a helping hand.”
Jarratt’s relationships with her students have largely passed the test of time. Various alumni frequently reach out via text or phone call—or even visit in person—years after they graduate from Whistler Gymnastics. It’s a rare and precious dynamic in the world of sport.
“My cheeks warm [when I think about it],” said Jarratt. “I feel so privileged that I've touched some kids enough to be a happy memory in their lives. Some have proudly presented their children to me, saying: ‘[My daughter’s] in gymnastics now too. I wanted to make sure she had the same great experience that I had.’ I love that, and it gives me some peace walking away.”
