GYMNASTS have had the opportunity of a lifetime to train with a world champion throughout lockdown, writes Jack Heale.

Young athletes at Cheshire Gymnastics have been in online sessions from their homes with Elliott Browne, 23, who won a team gold and individual silver medal in tumbling at the 2019 and 2018 World Championships, respectively.

Browne has paid a huge compliment to the work being done by the Moss Farm Performance Centre based club.

He said: “This is the only club where I need to constantly revise my plans to keep up with their improvement.

“I would definitely select some of these gymnasts to be in my own squad. They work really hard and love to train!”

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A Zoom session with Elliott Browne. Access is via the club's members secure portal, which is fully encrypted and they have a minimum of three coaches in attendance to help with feedback, offer corrections and learn from the best

Cheshire Gymnastics, which is home to regional and British champions, have enabled beginners as well as competitors to access the online Zoom sessions with Browne with many identified as having talent, too.

Commissioning the services of Browne was considered an important step in keeping levels of excitement and motivation high during the coronavirus pandemic's third and toughest lockdown.

Watch Elliott Browne in mindblowing action here:

The club have been training virtually six days a week, with more than 100 gymnasts and family members per day.

Mental health of members has been prioritised, so lots of new classes and sessions in a vast variety of age groups have been put on.

Cheshire Gymnastics have provided sessions for pre-school children and adults, with their activity offer ranging from family fun fitness, ballet, flexibility as well as strength and fitness sessions with external specialists and collaborations with other clubs across the UK.

“The commitment from our gymnasts has been amazing and the whole team at Cheshire Gymnastics have worked really hard to keep our gymnasts and their families fit,” head coach Mark Hudson said.

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One gymnast working on her strength at home

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Gymnastics and reading

“This virtual way of working has also been used as an effective platform for coach education and we have learned so much from each other and our special guests. It has been important to us to keep the club afloat and keep the whole team on board.”

Gymnasts have also been encouraged to share their ambitions by getting involved in The Dream Board Art Project, with more than 50 Dream Boards being submitted.

The club are looking forward to re-opening their doors in line with their national governing body’s ‘step forward plan’ at Moss Farm.

Spaces are available, register via website cheshiregymnastics.com

The club say the offer below applies until the gym reopens:

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