Gymstars recently travelled to Charleroi in Belgium and took part in an International Boys competition for those between nine to 18 years.
Competing against 180 gymnasts of different categories, the young boys showed potential and gave an impressive performance achieving great results, despite stiff competition coming from athletes from Netherlands, France, Belgium, England, Italy and Luxembourg.
The Boys showed class and style, winning all individual apparatus and overall results, also gaining good scores. For some of the boys this was their first experience abroad like Isaac Calleja, only 10 years old, competing in the pupils category, gaining first place overall with a score of 73.70 and also winning second place on pommel, vault and H. Bars. He was also first on rings and also took the cup for first place overall.
In the Benjamin Category, Isaac Xuereb, Liam Gauci, Andy Vassallo and Jean Borg all achieved very good results. Andy, still nine years old, performed with great confidence and showed potential, gaining an overall score of 74.70.
In the end he got what he deserved, a gold medal overall and second place on floor and third on rings and vault. Jean Borg was second overall, second on floor, vault and P. Bars and also first on H. Bars, whilst Liam gained fourth overall and third on P. Bars.
Keith Gravino competed in a higher category and gained the best score overall and also first on floor, pommel, rings, P. Bars and High Bars, and also second on vault.
Ryan Busuttil, Simon Gravino and Damien Gauci took part in the Espoire Category.
Ryan was second overall, first on pommel, vault, P. Bars and H. Bars and also second on floor; Damien gained third overall - first on rings, second on floor and third on pommel, vault and H. Bars, whilst Simon finished fourth overall with just 0.20 away from third overall and also gained second place on pommel, rings, vault and P. Bars and third on floor.
Karl Cumbo and Nicky Vassallo gained also impressive results with Karl gaining first place overall on rings and P. Bars, second on floor and vault and also third on pommel and High Bars; whilst Nicky was third overall, first on floor, vault and High Bars, second on P. Bars and third on rings.
The Camilleri brothers, Isaac and Matthias, competed in the senior competition. Both managed to achieve good results, pushing the club into first place and second overall. Matthias got well deserved results after his hard work lately, being also a University student. His overall results were a total of 91.45 points, followed by his brother Isaac with 91.00. Matthias also gained first place on floor, pommel, vault and P. Bars and second on rings and H. Bars, while Isaac got first on rings and H. Bars and also second on floor, pommel, vault and P. Bars.
Gymstars also had the opportunity to train in the national centre of the Belgian Federation in Mons. For these results, one must also give credit to the coach Ivelin Ivanov, a professional coach from Bulgaria. He prepared the boys during these last months and the results prove the excellent work he is doing.
Ivanov was also a great gymnast himself, representing his country and also worked with one of the greatest gymnasts in the world, Jordan Jorchev. Ivanov also gained great results competing in both the European and World Championships. He attended the sports school in Sofia and graduated with his Master in sport for Artistic Men’s Gymnastics.