A flair for gymnastics
14 Nov 2018
Year 10 student and keen gymnast Kennedy Payne has been selected to represent New Zealand at next year’s Valeri Liukin Invitational men’s gymnastics competition, to be held in Texas, USA, the weekend of 9–10 February 2019.
After starting gymnastics at the age of six, Kennedy – now 14 – soon showed his innate talent, which has since been developed through hours of practise, perseverance, dedication and hard work. He trains at Olympia Gymnastics Sports in Hornby for around 18 hours each week and is committed to doing whatever it takes to perfect his routines.
Men’s artistic gymnastics involves a combination of acrobatics, strength and power across six different apparatus: floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal (high) bar. Kennedy says it helps to be a good all-rounder – his consistent results in competitions throughout the year were a big factor in his selection – but his favourite piece of equipment is the pommel horse.
Kennedy enjoys being part of the gymnastics community and says doing gymnastics is a great way to stay strong and fit.
