PHOTO BY REBECCA SCHMAL Eva Paniti-Meyer poses for a photo at Salta Gymnastics.
rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken
Eva Paniti-Meyer has put her all into the Gas City’s gymnastics community for more than 30 years.
Described as “the heart and soul of Salta” on the organization’s website, Paniti-Meyer has been mentoring Medicine Hat’s young gymnasts since joining the club in 1988, and tonight she’ll get her due in the Gas City as one of three local athletes and coaches inducted to the Medicine Hat Sports Wall of Fame at the Family Leisure Centre.
“I just did my job the best that I could and I guess I feel kind of honoured to be recognized by the city and the community of my work,” said Paniti-Meyer. “Seeing all the renovations and growth, and putting gymnasts through gymnastics and through life, it was my dream. All I wanted to do was give back to the community what I received from my gymnastics.
“Teaching children life skills is basically what my goal was. Teaching gymnastics, anybody can do that.”
Paniti-Meyer -who will be inducted alongside golfer Kelly Risling and CFL/NFL alumnus Dan Federkeil – moved to Canada from Romania in 1987 and quickly found her place at Salta.
“I landed in Winnipeg, I had a family friend who came to Medicine Hat two weeks prior to my arrival,” Paniti-Meyer said following the announcement of her induction in November. “They said if I go to the immigration office, pay myself to come to Medicine Hat, I won’t lose any of the privileges a landed immigrant should get.
“I hopped on the Greyhound, came Oct. 5, 1987 and I’ve been here since.”
The 1974 Romanian national champion was hired on as a coach in 1988 when the club purchased a portion of the former Racquet Time building and changed its name from Vincent Massey Gymnastics Club to Salta Gymnastics Club.
“I had to get some immunizations and the lady who gave me the immunizations was the secretary of Vincent Massey (school),” said Paniti-Meyer.
“Her daughter was in gymnastics, so she came to my apartment, picked me up, took me out for dinner, got me a gym suit and said let’s go to the gym,” said Paniti-Meyer. “I worked out for an hour and a half. I still remember, Judy Windquist, Pat Connell and Agnes Duce, these were all members of the Vincent Massey Gymnastics Club. Agnes was the president. They were admiring my workout, and after an hour and a half … they said you’re hired.
Despite not being able to speak fluent English at the time, it still only took Paniti-Meyer one year to move into the club’s head coaching role. She later added program director to her duties.
“They said it’s OK, you can demonstrate. It was so hard. It took me five minutes to figure out how to express myself,” she said. “My tongue language is Hungarian, Romanian is my second language. Once you know two languages, the third is easier.”
The Medicine Hat Sports Wall of Fame induction ceremony is set for tonight at 7 p.m.
– with files from Sean Rooney
