SPORT
Jeremy ’ s journey
Jeremy on the pommel horse . [ Photo credit : Winkipop Media .]
Jeremy ’ s journey in gymnastics started when he was eight and tagged along with his brother Jonathan for a free trial . The free trial quickly grew into recreational classes and Jeremy joined the squad within two months . Jeremy ’ s love and passion for gymnastics was unquestionable . At home he turned armchairs into pommel horses and the hallway became his tumble track . Interestingly , Jeremy ’ s first coach was an inspiring young man called Harrison Ford .
Whilst competing in his second State Championship at age nine , Jeremy was invited by the Head Coach of the Men ’ s Artistic Gymnastics High Performance Centre , Igor Bespalov , to try out for the state ’ s High Performance Team . Jeremy made the team but because he started in gymnastics later than most High Performance boys , and as a general rule a High Performance athlete must only compete in the age division , the challenge for Jeremy was to learn many new skills quickly in order to compete at the appropriate level .
Jeremy currently trains 24 to 26 hours a week over nine sessions , training slightly less during term due to his involvement with the String Ensemble . He trains in all six apparatus , but his favourite is the pommel horse . Jeremy is now trained by Igor , a former gymnast of the Soviet Union National Squad , who is a very experienced coach . Since the restructuring of the Men ’ s Artistic High Performance Centre , the program has been moved to High Flyers Trampolining and Gymnastics Club in Wangara .
Over the years , Jeremy has made significant progress and achieved consistent results :
• State Champion for Level 3 ( 2012 ); Level 5 ( 2013 ); Level 7 under 12 ( 2014 ) and Level 8 under 14 ( 2015 )
• Represented WA in 2014 and 2015 at the Australian Gymnastics Championships in Melbourne in Level 7 under 12 and Level 8 under 14 respectively with the following results :
Photo credit : Winkipop Media
– Level 7 under 12 : Bronze All Around , Gold in Vault , Silver in Pommel and floor .
– Level 8 under 14 : Bronze All- Around , Silver for High Bar , Bronze for Pommel , Rings , Parallel Bar .
Unfortunately , due to a fractured wrist , Jeremy will not be competing at either the State or the National Championship this year .
For the past two years , Jeremy has been invited to the Men ’ s Artistic Gymnastics Team Future Camps at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra . He has also been invited to the DSR / WAIS Developing Champion program in WA .
The Gymnastics WA Elite Men ’ s Artistic Gymnastics Athlete of the Year Award that Jeremy won this year was not only an acknowledgement of his commitment , discipline , dedication and hard work but also a reflection of the high level of coaching and guidance he has received from past and present coaches . Jeremy also owes his achievement to the School , his Head of House and his teachers for the encouragement and support they have given him in his music and academic endeavours . The help and support from the parent community ( especially with Jonathan ) has been a tremendous blessing .
Jeremy ’ s dream is to one day represent and win medals for Australia at World Cups , Commonwealth Games and the Olympics . He also hopes to have a new skill named after him ( preferably for the pommel ). His short term goal ( for the next 3 years ) is to be selected for International Junior Competitions such as the Austria Future Cup and Japan Open . But wherever this journey may lead him , he hopes to enjoy and treasure the experience .
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