Patricia Rope Portis

Patti Rope Portis was born in Galt in 1959 and began her gymnastic career at the YWCA under the guidance of her mother, Benita. She competed in the 1971 provincials, the 1972 junior nationals and as a senior in 1973 for the National Academy, Eugene, Oregon. She initiated new standards in training intensity, choreography and musical accompaniment. She competed for Canada in China in 1973 and in world championships in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Jugoslavia, Romania, Moscow and Riga.

In 1976 she was Canadian gymnastic champion and a member of Canada’s Olympic Team which achieved Canada’s highest standing ever. That year she was named Cambridge Athlete of the Year and in 1982 was coach of the Puerto Rican National Team at the Pan-American Games. She lives in Pennsylvania.