Fadhil Yunus
Brunei Darussalam has garnered attention to develop the gymnastics scene in the country and beyond amid hopes of producing future international athletes following the arrival of a highly-certified coach and former South African national athlete Lindsay Adams.
The gymnastics coach and former world junior athlete will lead the gymnastics programme under the Omni Sports International, which provides professional coaching in various sports catered towards the younger generation.
Adams in an interview with the Sunday Bulletin, said, “I like to give Brunei gymnastics a chance in the country. My plan is we need to have a structure, going to schools and obviously looking for talented identification of gymnasts.”
He continued, “First of all, we need to find interest. The interest will show and guide us as long as we put a proper structure in place. We will also need to work on facility.
“Right now, for me is just to get the programme up and running. Once we know what we’re working on, I’m sure we can go to the next level and the next step.
“Obviously it is not going to happen overnight. When we can see the potential and what they can do, then we can move to the next level.”
The head coach expressed his hopes to produce competitors one day who could represent the country in the regional scene, though at present it is about building an interest among the young Bruneians.
“Right now, I just want to give Brunei kids a taste of what they can do and they must enjoy it. We will try out best and I’m happy to be here.”
In gymnastics, there is a range of disciplines that an aspiring gymnast can start with in the formative years of their career.
Adams added, “There are different types of gymnastics. The ones that we talk about when we go competitively is obviously artistic gymnastics so doing the apparatus work.
“But the easiest for now is just to get their interest and from there introduce them slowly.”
The former national athlete also expressed hopes to develop gymnastics in the national scene and getting the country represented in competitions such as the Commonwealth Games and Olympics in the future.
He said, “I’m sure this will blow up by word of mouth. Once you start putting trampolines in place and once you start get them going, the excitement from word of mouth will go out.”
Adams shared that young gymnasts can start at the age of three to four years for specific classes, adding that the best age to start is at five years.
“The best age for gymnasts to start is at five-year-old so that we not babysit them. It is not impossible to start at a younger age but I feel that we should have a parent in class at that age.”
