Tim raises bar to new heights

Tim has progressed in leaps and bounds and this culminated in him being named overall NSW Level One Open champion at the recent Gymnastics State Championships in Sydney.

He produced consistently solid performances for the six apparatuses including gold in the high bar and silver in the parallel bars and floor.

According to his mother, Sue Wade, gymnastics has had a great influence on Tim and she said that watching his high bar routine at the championships gave her goose bumps.

“We were amazed when we went down to Sydney and he beat all the Sydney boys,” she said.

“I haven’t been able to wipe the smile off my face since.

“Tim has been quite humble about it but I think it is a major achievement and something that he should be very proud of.”

Tim attends training at the PCYC three times a week and joined a group of eight boys from the club at the championships.

He, along with team-mates Tanner Arnold and Alec Ferguson, placed second overall in the Level One Open Boys, and his coach Andrew Bassett praised their achievements.

“The boys represented the club at the highest possible level of competition in NSW in men’s artistic gymnastics and I am very proud of all of their achievements,” Bassett said.

“I am thrilled with Tim’s individual success. He demonstrates determination, courage and strength every day in training.”

Sue Wade said the set up at the PCYC with Bassett as head coach was ideal for boys in what is often viewed as a predominantly female sport.

“Accolades must go to Tim’s coach Andrew Bassett and the assistant coaches Kristen Coady, Dale Woodbridge and Michael Nay,” Mrs Wade said.

“Boys can be pushed to a point, but not too far, and Andrew knows their limits and doesn’t put pressure on the boys.

“I think gymnastics is a really good thing for boys to get into because of the discipline that they learn from it.

"Tim can never sit still for long but he enjoys the strength, focus and discipline of gymnastics so it’s something he can put his energies into.

“He enjoys the camaraderie of the sport and then when he comes home he does his own training with extra weights and stretching.”

While female gymnasts tend to peak at a younger age, male gymnasts can look forward to a potentially longer involvement at a competitive level and peaking at an older age, with a greater emphasis on strength.

Tim is determined to succeed and wants to one day compete at a Commonwealth or Olympic Games.

“He started off in the recreational gym but got bored with it once he was not able to work at the pace he wanted to.

“At the recent state trials in Newcastle he met two teenage boys who are Level 8 gymnasts and members of the Australian squad.

“They train up to 30 hours per week, but that didn’t daunt Tim at all - it motivated him even more.”