Illawarra Gymnastics Clubs Dominate NSW Contry Championships
WARRAWONG, NSW – gymnastics clubs from the Illawarra region are celebrating recent successes, claiming championship titles at both the NSW Country Championships and the state-level B League competition. Gravity Gym was crowned the 2025 FreeG Champion Club, while another local club recently secured victory in the B League, earning promotion to the A League for next year.
The achievements highlight the growing strength of gymnastics programs in the Illawarra. Gravity Gym coach Ethan Walsh described the feeling of winning the FreeG championship as “honestly unbelievable,” particularly given the team’s recent competition schedule. “We went into the competition not expecting too much as we had just had another competition, the boys were a bit tired and our training sessions had been a bit more relaxed so they didn’t get burnt out,” Walsh explained. He encouraged his team to experiment with new skills,saying,”Just try out some new skills; try out some new combinations and see what you want to do.”
FreeG, a less restrictive discipline than many other gymnastics styles, is judged in two formats: a freestyle routine where athletes create a 10-minute run incorporating vaults, flips, and transitions, and a speed run through a designated course. Walsh coaches a competitive squad of seven gymnasts aged 10 to 17, supported by a recreational program of around 120 participants.He emphasizes the accessibility of FreeG, noting, ”I feel that FreeG is one of the easier gym sports to get into because ther’s no requirements of ridiculous training hours or any particular style.” He added, “FreeG is you come in and you are taught the skills, and you put them together in a way that best suits you. It’s about freedom of expression and really how you want to set out your own.”
Beyond the competitive success, club leaders emphasize the broader benefits of participation. amy,a representative from one of the clubs,highlighted the development of resilience and mental strength in their athletes. “They learn how to continue to work hard even when things get hard or they don’t get the desired results on the day of the competition, creating resilience and a mental strength that is unmatched.” She also noted the importance of the experiences outside of competition, recalling her own positive childhood memories from gymnastics trips.
The not-for-profit clubs are focused on continued growth, with plans to expand into higher levels of competition and perhaps secure a larger training space. “We’ve built our club from the base up; we started from a foundational level and we’ve built a really strong team moving forward,” Amy said. “And we definitely have plans to continue to expand into the higher levels as time goes on and as our really competitive kids move through.”
For full competition results, visit the Gymnastics NSW website. Those interested in getting involved with the clubs can find more information on the northern gymnastics Academy Facebook page or the Gravity Gym website.
