Gone: Hammond Park Gymnastics Director

The City of Sandy Springs and Marina Davidovich, who ran the Hammond Park gymnastics program for five years have parted ways.

In June, , to continue running gymnastics and other recreational programs at the Hammond Park gymnasium under her ownership - Sandy Springs Recreation. That agreement was dissolved on July 15.

Jacobs Engineering, which manages Recreation and Parks, will now manage the gym and gymnastics programs for at least six months. City Manager John McDonough said Jacobs chose not to continue the same terms and conditions of Davidovich’s agreement.

On Tuesday, City Council approved a task order from Jacobs for $222,830 for its gymnastics services. The amount is to cover hiring two full-time staff members and part-time instructors. An additional $14,625 is anticipated in administrative expenses.

“It’s not as favorable financially to the city as the previous contract was,” said McDonough to Mayor Eva Galambos.

Davidovich grew the gymnastics program from 100 to 1200 girls, from ages nine months into adulthood. Reasons for her departure are unclear. However, in a press statement McDonough said, "Since Sandy Springs Recreation was not able to satisfactorily meet the terms and conditions of the contract, the City and Sandy Springs Recreation mutually determined that it was in the best interest of the City to dissolve the contract."

Messages left by Sandy Springs Patch to Davidovich were not returned.

When in June, Davidovich,  a former rhythmic gymnast from Ukraine, was excited about her future with Hammond Park gymnastics.

“Gymnastics is my love,” she said. “I will take care of my own cleaning of the gym; opening of the gym, closing the gym. I will be the one responsible. And I will run it like a household.”

Johanna Godleski, a former member of the U.S. National Rhythmic Team took over as manager of the gymnastics program, on Monday. She has been an instructor at Hammond Park gym since 2008.

Surprised parents of gymnastics students may be happy to know that husband and wife instructors, Gennadiy and Ina Korshunov, have also remained. The couple are recent hires of Davidovich. They have coached Olympic gymnasts and champions including Yelena Davydova, who won gold medals in the all-around individual and team competition for the former Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympics.