Diana Zoe Coop
Artist, Brevet 3 Judge
I have known Camille Martens for 20 years, and have watched her stellar career evolve as an athlete, coach and mentor to hundreds of gymnasts.
Camille is, without a doubt, one of the most dynamic, talented, empathic people I have ever encountered. I count her as a friend and inspiration to myself and many other athletes from all over the country. Her creative, positive, uplifting attitude is a unique gift which she shares with everyone she encounters.
Olga Khabarova
Head Coach of Chinook RGC
Brevet 3 Judge
I have had a number of experiences with Camille: traveling together, attending camps and sending my gymnasts to her camps. Every time my experience was a rewarding one. She is very enthusiastic about the sport. She really loves it and this feeling is passed to everyone around her. Camille is an inspirational speaker that lights up the hearts of the gymnasts and she is a professional who's opinion I value.
Garry Schmidt
There is an energy that surrounds Camille which enables her athletes to tap into their own inner potential. So, while they are relationally and professionally connected to her, their passion for their sport finds its roots deep inside their own psyche. I have been around her and her athletes and students enough to see the delight in their eyes as they tap into their inner athlete and perform far beyond what they thought they were capable of. While an amazing choreographer, rhythmic gymnast, and dancer, she possesses a coaching gift that is not about her, but about the inner potential of whomever she is working with. Her coaching comes from her soul, not her ego!
Madeleine Shaw
The extra time, energy, and creativity invested by Camille in her camps and workshops makes every opportunity to work with her fun, inspiring, and effective. Camille has consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty as a coach. Since day one she has invested in each girl's personal development both in and outside of the gym. By sheer luck, I had the privilege of being coached by Camille and I have come away from the sport with leadership skills, goal-setting skills, greater personal awareness and self-confidence. I wish I could say this is the norm for retired athletes but the fact of the matter is that Camille's conscientious coaching style is truly unique in the sport of Rhythmic Gymnastics.
Camille is acutely aware of each person's individual potential and desire for excellence. Whether you dream of standing atop the podium or finding an outlet for creative movement, Camille is the coach you want!
Mary Sanders
2004 Olympian - Canadian and American RG Champion
I remember just joining RG and watching Camille train so hard each and every day with such a positive and kind attitude towards others. Camille has always been a role model for me and I believe to this day that I got where I am because I had such a wonderful example with Camille training in front of me each day.
The greatest thing Camille portrayed and taught me was to work hard and to be gracious to others in any circumstance. Success comes with hard work, determination and humbleness.
Doug MacPherson
Father
The hallmark of a truly great coach is expressed by those they teach. Great coaches provide more than a set of skills in a sport. They provide some of the most valuable life skills. The measure of a coach is not just the win / loss column or the number of athletes to reach the top, it is found in the hearts of those they touch. A great coach leaves an indelible mark on the values of an athlete. Any athlete will gladly tell you the stories of that one coach that made them understand the true value of sport and the true dividends that they will reap in their lives, even if it is years after the fact. If you are an athlete or a former athlete, ask yourself to remember the greatest coach you ever experienced. It will undoubtedly be a very fond memory and you will feel it inside, deeply. A great athletic coach is really a great human coach. As a former athlete and a parent of a child touched by her coach, I think I know a great coach when I see one. Camille Martens has demonstrated over and over again the tremendous impact she has on the discipline, dedication, pride and perseverance of her athletes’. She is recognize around the world as an inspiration and is really one of Canada's greatest ambassadors. Undoubtedly she will only get better and all the lives she has touched or ever will touch will be all the better for the experience.
Camille Nerman
National Team Member RG, National Level Coach
"Camille is a woman who exhibits unbelievable ambition, strength, leadership, passion, determination, and of course love and kindness to everyone she comes across. Camille is always offering amazing advice and friendship, as a coach, friend, and role model."
Karley Sunstrum
Athlete – Medalist at Nationals
Camille opened a world of opportunity for me. She took me as a shy 9 year old and allowed me to discover my full potential through the creative sport of rhythmic gymnastics. She fostered a passion and love for the sport that you have passed on to not only me, but SO MANY of her gymnasts. I have found that all of her past gymnasts, who are many of my closest friends, have gone on in life and have essentially followed their dreams! So many of her girls are making differences in their own lives and the lives of others, and it is through Camille’s leadership that we have all learned how to be agents of change: Positive change! The closeness allows for phenomenal relationships to be established and genuine talent to be shaped and uplifted. Camille is passionate about her work. Indeed, it is not only her work, but her LIFE!
Lauren Adolph
National Team Athlete
"I am nearly 21 now and I've been trying to figure out why I keep stumbling upon success in my life at an age when you’re supposed to just stumble...period. Stumble out of high school into the wonders of becoming an adult, going to university, getting a job, creating a life. It's a big, scary and hard change...right? But this is what gets me, I'm not having a hard time with it, not at all. I am explaining this so that when I share my conclusion with you, you won't brush it off as a useless cliche or horrible over exaggeration. So here it is. My only explanation is that I know I wouldn't be experiencing this success without the incredible impact Rhythmic Gymnastics and Camille Martens had on my childhood. The intangible life skills she fostered in me have literally created the person I am today; a person who never seems short of a spectacular outcome - no matter the hand she's dealt. I know that I could never have so effortlessly created this thrilling, above average, roller coaster of a life without Camille. I will love her forever, not only for teaching me how to be a champion on the carpet, but for how to be a champion beyond the carpet."
Svetlana Rasseko
Internationally renowned coach (3 Olympic Medalists)
Camille changed my life forever. Many years ago I met Camille – a girl with a great passion and love for Rhythmic Gymnastics. Seeing her growing as a person and a coach, I always was surprising with her creativities and inspiration, which she is carrying on through your life. Her gymnasts achieved so many things in their lives, because of her motivation, discipline and determination to succeed. I am blessed to live in the Okanagan, where I can still be a small part of her great work she is doing for this community.
Cathy Scott
My daughter has been with Camille for 4 years now. The level of confidence and self esteem that my daughter now has is solely because of what she has learned from Camille. Camille runs an elite program and yet maintains closeness with the girls, which allows them to not lose sight of who they are.
Tammy Andreotti
Camille is not just a coach. She is an incredible leader that is able to connect with kids at all ages and all levels. Camille is dedicated to helping her athletes find a way to use their athletic skills to be better people, to give to others who are not as fortunate. Her leadership teaches the kids about winning and losing and how this fits into life. Her ability to connect with kids artistically is also a gift that many coaches are unable to master. Camille has a heart of gold and an ability to inspire those around her to strive for more in life. She expects a high level of performance from her athletes and commands a positive atmosphere in her gym. Her athletes rise to her level of expectation and achieve their goals because she has taught them to trust themselves and believe in their hard work. Camille is an incredible coach and represents the true selflessness that a great teacher should.
Cheralyn Kelly
Camille has been an excellent instructor and is a terrific motivator and instructor!
Liz Stanley
Graphic artist – Mom
My daughters and I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Camille for the last 5 years. She is an amazing coach and person. The skills the girls acquire in addition to the sport come through in their everyday lives. She is genuinely interested in helping each one of them grow into respectful, loving people, as well as teaching them to find their inner motivation to overcome every challenge placed before them. Everything she teaches, spills over into their regular daily lives, and is apparent to all who meet the children Camille has coached. We are very blessed to have someone of her caliber in our city, and we are extremely thankful to have her in our lives.