Bonnie Wittmeier entered the world of gymnastics at the “late” age of nine at the Winnipeg Panthers Gym Club under the tutelage of Elfriede Goermann.  The youngster learned to overcome her nerves and she continued to work with Goermann at the Winnipeg Gymnastic Centre before heading west to train in B.C.

In 1979, at the age of 13, Wittmeier dominated the junior national scene. At the Canada Winter Games, she brought home three gold and one silver medal in four events, capturing the all-round championship and later the Junior National Championship. She was selected to three international competitions, including the Pacific Rim Championships, where she placed fifth all-round. Goermann said Wittmeier was a very focused performer at a young age and got part of her strength from her religious faith. “She always would do a special prayer in the evening,” she said.

Entering the senior category, she qualified as the second alternate to the 1980 Olympic team, which did not see competition because of the boycotted Games. In 1981, after winning a bronze medal all-round at the National Championships, Wittmeier competed at the World Championships in Moscow and finished in 34th position among 150 competitors. In 1982, she became National Champion. “At that time she was in a class by herself,” Goermann said. “Bonnie definitely had the highest calibre of difficulty in Canada.” In the 1983 World Championships in Budapest, she improved her placing with a 25th-spot finish among 175 athletes. In 1984, her Olympic dream came true when she competed in the Los Angeles Olympic Games and capped her career with a 13th all-round finish.