Erika-Leigh Stirton

Erika-Leigh Stirton
Alternative name
Erika-Leigh Howard
Born (1980-08-08) 8 August 1980
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Height1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Spouse
​
(m. 2011)​
Gymnastics career
DisciplineRhythmic gymnastics
Country represented
 Canada
(1992-2000)
ClubOlympium Rhythmic Gymnastics
Head coach
Danuta Smiechowski
Retiredyes
Medal record
Women's rhythmic gymnastics
Representing  Canada
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place1998 Kuala LumpurAll-Around
Gold medal – first place1998 Kuala LumpurRope
Gold medal – first place1998 Kuala LumpurHoop
Gold medal – first place1998 Kuala LumpurClubs
Gold medal – first place1998 Kuala LumpurRibbon
Silver medal – second place1998 Kuala LumpurTeam
Four Continents Championships
Gold medal – first place1999 JacksonvilleRope
Gold medal – first place1999 JacksonvilleHoop
Silver medal – second place1999 JacksonvilleTeam
Bronze medal – third place1999 JacksonvilleAll-Around
Junior Pan American Championships
Gold medal – first place1994 MonterreyTeam

Erika-Leigh Howard (née Stirton; born 8 August 1980) is a retired Canadian rhythmic gymnast. She's a multiple Commonwealth Games champion.

Personal life

In 2011 Stirton married Olympic rower Malcolm Howard.[1] Together they have two children.[2]

Career

Stirton took up rhythmic gymnastics when she was nine years old after three years of pre-competitive artistic gymnastics, and recreational artistic before that, at Mississauga Gym Club.[3] In 1992 she made the Canadian national team.[4]

She was crowned national junior champion in 1994. That year she also won five gold medals at the Junior Pan American Championships in Monterrey.[5]

In January 1995 she won silver, behind Lindsay Richards at the Canadian Championships.[5] She was then selected to competed at the World Championships in Vienna along Richards and Gretchen McLennan. There she was 25th in the All-Around.[6][7]

Partecipating in the 1998 international Corbeil-Essonnes tournament she took 12th place.[4] At the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur she won five gold medals in the individual events as well as silver in teams, along Emilie Livingston and Katie Iafolla.[8][9][10]

After becoming the Canadian national champion, in June 1999 she participated in the Four Continents tournament in Jacksonville, winning gold with rope and hoop, silver in teams and bronze in the All-Around.[11][12] Two months later she was selected for the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, finishing in 4th place.[13][14] In September she competed in the World Championships in Osaka, being 30th overall.[15][16]

In April 2000 she won gold in the All-Around at the Senior Pacific Alliance Championships in Christchurch.[17] After winning gold individually and in groups at Elite Ontario she Stirton made the decision to retire from the sport.[13]

After retirement she graduated from the University of Guelph and the School of Toronto Dance Theatre, and started working as a dancer, trainer and a choreographer.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "University Boat Race 2013: Oxford stroke and Olympic champion Malcolm Howard remain calm before storm". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  2. ↑ "Insight Timer - #1 Free Meditation App for Sleep, Relax & More". Insight Timer. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  3. ↑ "Successful People from Our Neighborhood - Erika-Leigh Howard (Stirton) - Rhythmic Gymnast". realtormarina.livejournal.com. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  4. 1 2 "Erika-Leigh Stirton". www.oocities.org. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  5. 1 2 "Stirton has arrived" (PDF).
  6. ↑ "19. World Championships in Vienna, Austria (19.-24. September 1995)". www.rsg.net. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  7. ↑ Koven, Kent (1995-09-22). "USA Earns Berth to Olympic Games in Rhythmic Gymnastics • USA Gymnastics". USA Gymnastics. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  8. ↑ "Commonwealth Games Medallists - Gymnastics". www.gbrathletics.com. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  9. ↑ Paul, Rajes (2024-03-16). "Forget the high of 1998, Commonwealth Games is low priority now". The Star. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  10. 1 2 "Ms. Erika – Dance Essence". Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  11. ↑ "Artistic & Rhythmic Gymnastics, National Champions 1999, Overview". www.gymmedia.com. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  12. ↑ Koven, Kent (1999-06-21). "Japan Wins Senior, Junior Four Continents Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships • USA Gymnastics". USA Gymnastics. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  13. 1 2 "Gymnastics Ontario" (PDF).
  14. ↑ Koven, Kent (1999-08-07). "All U.S. Rhythmic Gymnasts Advance to Pan Am Finals • USA Gymnastics". USA Gymnastics. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  15. ↑ "1999 World Championships All-Around Result Book" (PDF).
  16. ↑ "23rd World Championships 1999 Rhythmic GymnasticsOSAKA". www.gymmedia.de. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  17. ↑ Koven, Kent (2000-04-24). "USA Gymnastics Scores Big Wins in New Zealand and Brazil • USA Gymnastics". USA Gymnastics. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
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