Epping academy small on numbers, but big on talent

It may be short on numbers, but that hasn’t stopped the Gymsports Academy of Movement & Excellence making a name for itself in state competition.

Gymsport members Dylan Brooks, Freddy Collyer, Newman Rukewza and Liam Cochaud have teamed up in four competitions over the past two months.

“We have one of the smallest teams in the competitions, with most teams having six gymnasts,” said Kim Amor, director of the Epping-based academy.

She said team totals for competitions were worked out using the score of four gymnasts in each discipline, meaning some lower scores could be dropped. But because the Gymsports team has only four members, every score counts.

The boys, aged six to nine, have achieved individual and team placings across the four events.

They include a second and two third placings in the all-round team event and four team first places for individual apparatuses.

Amor said the boys had come a long way since their start two years ago.

“Last year was the first year of competition for the boys and it was about training them and their parents about what competitions are about,” she said.

“This year we’ve done four national-level events over the past two months.

“We focused on Victoria-based competitions. The boys are absolutely stoked with the results.

“They’re becoming a lot more focused at training and events … and they listen to the coach more now.

“One of the boys comes in with all his medals and ribbons and wants to show them off.”

Amor says the boys are already keen to start training for next season.