Champion gymnast visits local school

PUPILS at Charters Ancaster Preparatory & Nursery school were in for a double treat last week when they received a visit from champion gymnast Kieran Behan and coach Chris Downie.

As part of the 'Sports 4 All' programme, Kieran demonstrated his talents with floor work, held a question and answer session and, aided by Chris, put the youngsters through their paces, assisting them in completing a range of exercises in a sponsored circuit.

Speaking of the Sports 4 All programme Kieran, 19, said: " I think it is a fantastic idea. It is designed to inspire children to get into sports, and encourages up and coming athletes."

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An interest in the gym began at just ten years of age for Kieran, but due to serious injuries, there were times when he was told he'd never walk again.

Kieran said: " I first got into the gym when I was ten years old. It was always something I was interested in, and I liked it more and more. Then, when I was eleven, a tumour was discovered on my thigh and I was wheelchair bound for a year."

Due to the tourniquet not being checked properly during the operation, Kieran was left with nerve damage to his leg, and doctors told him he could possibly spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Kieran was undeterred. His will power, passion for gymnastics, and a tough physiotherapy regime ensured that he was soon back in training.

However, what he describes as, "a freak accident", was to follow just a year later when he slipped and fell, hitting the high bar and suffering a serious head injury.

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Medical experts again told him that he would probably spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, but Keiran wasn't having any of it.

Kieran said: "I never accepted what I'd been told and friends and family always supported me, without them I wouldn't have recovered and gone on to win the titles that I have."

Following the accident it took eighteen months of hard work and determination for Kieran to be able to walk properly, after which he said, "I soon got back into gymnastics."

Kieran, who trains for up to thirty hours a week at Tolworths Gymnastics club in Surrey, did indeed get back into gymnastics, and has already won a wealth of titles - which includes being the youngest person to win the 2005 British Floor Championships.

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He now has his sights set on some tough competitions in the near future, including The World Championships In Tokyo, the Commonwealth Games in 2010 in India, and the 2012 Olympics in London.

The pupils at Charters Ancaster raised approximately 300 from their sponsored circuit, of which forty percent will be donated to the children's medical research charity SPARKS, with the rest going towards buying sports equipment for the school

Burser, Roger Powell, said the day had been a great success: "The children were very enthusiastic but were very tired afterwards. They thoroughly enjoyed the whole event and thought Kieran's demo was fantastic."

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