Ernestine Russell

Ernestine Russell
Russell at the 1954 AAU Championships
Personal information
Born (1938-06-10) June 10, 1938 (age 86)
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Height153 cm (5 ft 0 in)
Weight52 kg (115 lb)
Sport
SportArtistic gymnastics
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 1959 Chicago All-around
Gold medal – first place 1959 Chicago Vault
Gold medal – first place 1959 Chicago Uneven bars
Gold medal – first place 1959 Chicago Floor
Silver medal – second place 1959 Chicago Balance beam

Ernestine Jean Russell (born June 10, 1938), later known by her married names Ernestine Carter and Ernestine Weaver, is a Canadian former gymnast and American former college gymnastics coach. She represented Canada in the 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics. Although Russell won no medals in her two Olympic appearances, she is regarded as Canada's first notable female Olympic gymnast and contributed significantly to the growing popularity of women's gymnastics in Canada and the United States.

Russell later became a college gymnastics coach, leading the women's programs at Clarion State College and the University of Florida, where her teams won three college national championships.