Three on road to Glasgow
TRI-STAR Gymnastics in Mt Roskill has a knack for churning out New Zealand representative gymnasts.
Three of the gym’s members have just been named in the men’s artistic team travelling to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games.
Reid McGowan, Matt Palmer and David Bishop will all don the silver fern as part of a five-man team.
‘‘It’s a lifelong dream, since I was a kid I always wanted to have that on my CV. It’s fulfilment, it’s good,’’ McGowan, 21, says.
For 28-year-old Palmer it is his second Commonwealth Games after the 2010 event in Delhi.
‘‘I definitely want to make the rings final, I have that expectation on myself after missing out last time,’’ he says.
‘‘And I want to push for a medal, if I can sort out my routine I think I’m a medal prospect.
‘‘It was always a dream to go but being my second one this is more of a privilege.’’
After trialling over the course of two events including some success at the Australian nationals the men’s team looks on form for a podium finish.
The British competitors will be their toughest opposition with the Great Britain team winning the bronze at London 2012, McGowan says.
The Western Springs resident was an energetic child and started gymnastics when he was 4.
‘‘I was a pretty crazy little kid, I would drive my mum up the wall. I needed a release and she took me to gymnastics from a young age and I just loved it.’’
His speciality is pommel horse which is one of the most difficult and demanding disciplines in the men’s artistic competition.
Palmer prefers the rings and hopes to deliver a routine with a very high level of difficulty.
The New Zealand men’s team will take part in a 10-day camp in Essex in the lead-up to the games which kick off on July 24.
Tomorrow the Tri Star Club will be holding a fundraising event to raise money towards the trip. There will be fun and games for all the family and the boys will be performing their routines for the crowd.