Taking tumbling to next level

In action – Papamoa’s Medea Jones tumbling in a tournament.

She's like any 13-year-old girl you'd meet – just with an unstoppable work ethic and unsatisfiable passion and dedication when it comes to gymnastics.

Papamoa's Medea Jones has claimed medals at every NZ National Gymsport Championships competition in the last three years.

Now she's been selected to represent NZ in power tumbling at the Australian Gymnastics Championships from May 29-June 5.

'I first started gymnastics when I was four years old,” says Medea. And why has she stuck with it? 'Because I enjoy it, I get to spend time with a lot of my friends – and I like being able to do flips and learn new skills as well as just having fun swinging on the bars.”

Medea is the first representative to come out of Te Puke Gymsport club to represent NZ – and there's a reason why.

Behind the scenes and the sparkles on the leotards, she trains – heaps!

Currently, a normal week has her training tumbling for 5.5 hours a week. Plus she trains artistic gymnastics about 11.5 hours weekly. Then there's crossfit. 'A couple hours week,” says mum Kimberly. And she fits school around all of this.

But she's not superhuman. Medea likes to sleep in on Saturdays mornings 'til about 9am”.

Medea's national medals so far include 2015 NZ National Tumbling Champion in the 11-12 year division, a 2014 bronze medal for beam, and in 2013 she won silver for floor.

At regional level, she's 2016's Auckland Tumbling Champion, Midlands Tumbling Champion; and was Midlands Women's Artistic Champion Step 7 in 2015 and AIMS Games Women's Artistic Champion Open Seniors in 2014.

In 2013 she claimed North Island Women's Artistic Champion Step 5; and in 2011 Midlands Women's Artistic Champion Step 3.

Her favourite apparatus? 'I like artistic gymnastics, and floor and beam – mainly because you can do high intensity flips as well as dancing.”

And she loves perfecting a new skill. 'It's pretty scary the first time but once you do it a few times it gets easier and easier.” Does adrenalin kick in? 'Oh yeah.”

So what's the ultimate goal? 'It would like to go to the Olympics but right now I just want to do the best I can in my competitions.”

And she has a very supportive family to help her. 'Dad mainly drives me everywhere but when he's out of town for work, mum steps in.”

The only barrier is cost. Gymnastics is not funded in NZ – there's no financial help for parents or athletes through Government agencies, says dad Paul. 'Even if you have a budding world champion in the making.”

Kimberly says the Australia trip will cost about $3000 including flights and entry fees.

The uniform – for leotards, tracksuits and bags – will cost an extra $800.

Medea is looking for sponsors to assist with the Australian trip costs.

To help, call Paul Jones on 021 760 590.

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