Collaboration creates elite training facility for Christchurch gymnasts

In collaboration with Olympia Gymnastics Sports Club the new Te Wero gymnastics club has opened in the Christchurch suburb of Wainoni.

The new club takes a fresh approach to gymnastics and will deliver an elite programme along with a full range of pre-school, school, recreational and competitive gymnastics programmes for men, women and children.

Te Wero Gymnastics club Board Member Melanie Bloom explains “after a lot of hard work we’re excited that the Te Wero Gymnastics club is now up and running in a new facility in Wainoni.”

The club has been established with the support of the well-established Olympia Gymnastics Sports Club and will initially operate as a satellite operation.

Olympia Gymnastics Sports Club Business Manager Kathryn Searle adds “we are really excited about the new club, it’s a fantastic opportunity for gymnasts to progress to an elite level and also remain connected with Olympia.”

Explaining that Te Wero is offering an innovative elite gymnastics programme developed by the coaches Jozsi Ferencz and Svetlana Sazonova, Bloom continues “we are extremely fortunate to have secured Jozsi and Svetlana as our lead coaches.

“They bring international experience having achieved coaching success at world competitions and Olympic level. They are key to our elite programme having a proven track record and are already delivering amazing results with our gymnasts.”

The initiative will also support Christchurch’s eastern community as well as becoming a centre of excellence for gymnastics in the wider region. Scholarships will be created to support and encourage local children to participate in gymnastics.

The programme will also allow members of other gymnastics clubs in the Canterbury region to train with Te Wero Gymnastics but still be allowed to continue as members of their own club and represent them at competitions.

Bloom comments “it is difficult for a single club to maintain an elite programme and those that do insist that gymnasts join their club. We don’t think that is right and are doing things differently so as to encourage a more inclusive elite programme in the region.”

Gymsports New Zealand, gymnastics’ governing body is also supportive of providing opportunities for young people to participate in gymnastics.

Gymsports New Zealand Chief Executive Tony Compier concludes “GymSports NZ is supportive of any club that wants to provide opportunities for young people to participate in gymnastics. To offer coaching services to elite gymnasts from the wider Canterbury Region is a bold step in a new direction.

“We look forward to the Te Wero/Olympia partnership adding to an already strong and vibrant gymnastics landscape in Canterbury."

The name of the club was chosen to reflect the beliefs of the club while providing an opportunity to use a name that reflects our place, Te Wero is te reo Māori for ‘The Challenge’.

Images: Te Wero gymnastics/Facebook

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