With the intention of attracting more males to gymnastics, Colombian national Parkour leader Angie Julieth Sánchez Molina is in Jamaica to conduct an introductory course from December 20-22 at the National Gymnastics Training Centre on Slipe Road in Kingston.

Molina is an international Parkour judge and a Member of the Parkour Technical Commission International Gymnastics Federation coach.

Parkour is an athletic training discipline or sport in which practitioners attempt to get from point A to point B in the fastest and most efficient way possible, without assisting equipment and often while performing artistic-gymnastic maneuvers.

With roots in military obstacle course training and martial arts, parkour includes running, climbing, swinging, vaulting, jumping, plyometrics, rolling, and quadrupedal movement—whatever is suitable for a given situation.

The course is designed to instruct the participants on the necessary information to start up this new discipline in their countries and form a united community that contributes to the development of the discipline in the Central American region of the Pan American Gymnastics Union.

It also aims to grow the number of parkour practitioners and athletes in the region, strengthen the start of parkour in the sports and federation field and encourage the creation of new programs adapted to the style of each country.

According to Nicole Grant President of the Jamaica Gymnastics Association, equipment to facilitate the course arrived about three weeks ago and is being set up for the start of the course on Tuesday, December 20.

Grant believes it was time to introduce a new discipline in gymnastics to the island that has made steady gains in traditional forms of the sport over the past few years.

“We really wanted to introduce a new discipline that appeals to the male population and we find that Parkour is one that more males may be interested in because there is a stigma when it comes on to artistic gymnastics, which is what we do now,” she said.

“So, we are hoping that Parkour, which is also a discipline at the world championships level and will soon be at the Olympics level and we do have a number of youngsters at our gym, especially boys, who are actually doing it but they don’t know that they are.

“Boys like to jump over stuff, they like challenges like that and I think it will definitely appeal to the boys.”

This realization, she said, prompted her to reach out to the Pan American Gymnastics Union about local interest in Parkour.

“It was really at short notice because it’s the end of the year and the year for Parkour is actually wrapping up, so it was a challenge for them to get us to do the course here because you really need the equipment and they so that sent us the equipment, which thankfully came on time and in time for the course.”

The Jamaica Gymnastics Association will act as hosts of the International Gymnastics Federation’s (FIG) Technical Committee meetings scheduled to be held at the Oceans Coral Springs Hotel in Falmouth, Jamaica from November 25-29.

The FIG Technical Committee has the responsibility of setting all code of points and the technical direction of Artistic Gymnastics.

According to the JGA President, Nicole Grant, that the FIG selected Jamaica to hosts these very important meetings is an indicator of the JGA’s growing stature within the sport and she sees it as a major milestone.

“We are super excited that the Ministry of Tourism and the Jamaica Tourist Board as well as Elite Diagnostics for coming on board at such short notice to make this possible for us,” said JGA President Nicole Grant. 

“We are also pleased that the Pan American Gymnastics Union president Naomi Valenzzo will also be visiting Jamaica during the Technical Committee meetings. She was very instrumental in getting the FIG to donate much needed equipment last month.

“We are even more excited that the President (Donatella Sacchi) and Vice President (Nehad Zayed) of the FIG Technical Committee have decided to arrive two days early to see our National Junior elites who are currently preparing for the PAGU Youth Tournament in Columbia from December 2-16, 2022.”

Grant revealed that the officials will be also meeting members of the JGA board as well as judging the national juniors in pre-competition on Thursday November 24 at the Jamaica School of Gymnastics on Slipe Road in Kingston.

Jamaica School of Gymnastics (JSG) won the top prize at the Yamilet Pena Classic held in the Dominican Republic from August 13-14.

The Jamaican gymnasts edged out the hosts while making the highest All-Around score of the competition. More than 300 gymnasts from 19 clubs from more than14 countries including Mexico, Aruba, Panama and the United States.

Two clubs from Jamaica participated in the tournament.

The Jamaica School of Gymnastics fielded 29 gymnasts who competed at Recreational, USAG Compulsory level 1 to 4 as well as USAG Advance Level 6-8. The other club, Westmoreland Gymnastics, was represented by five gymnasts who competed at Recreational, USAG level 1 and 2.

JSG’s Level Four team of Leah-Paige Phillips, Alayna Wilson, and Jade-Ann James topped their category while the Level Six team of Jurn’e Davis, Kamaria Smith, Janay Howel and Jesanique Scott finished third.

The Level Seven team of Leanna Blake, Arianna Richardson, Savanna Adams, Danique Meek and Sukhuri-Shay Smith finished first while the Level Eight team of Zuri-Matandara-Clarke, Mariah Gordon, Elyssa Alexander and Natashley Prehay was third.

Not to be outdone, Westmoreland Gymnastics’ gymnast Lowaynia Myers was third on Vault (9.85) and fifth in the All Around with a score of 37.7 at the Recreational Level.

Meanwhile, also at the Recreational Level, JSG’s Kalyssa Campbell was second on Floor with a 9.4 and eighth in the All Around with a score of 37.0; Lenessa Whyte was fourth on Vault with a 9.8 and 10^th in the All Around with a score of 37.0

At Level 3, Elissa Ennis was fifth on vault with a score of 9.25 and sixth in the All Around with a score of 34.1.

 At Level 4, Leah-Paige Phillips was first on Bars with a 9.6 and fourth in the All Around with a score of 35.65.

At Level 6, Kamaria Smith was second on Bars with a 9.25 and sixth in the All Around with a score of 35.7 and Jesanique Scott was third on Bars and seventh in the All Around with a score of 35.7.

At Level 7 in the 12-plus age group, Leanna Blake was first in the Bars with 9.6 and first in the All Around.

In the 9-11 age group, Danique Meek was first on Floor (9.1) and first on Beam (8.4). She was also top of the All Around with a score of 35.9.

And at Level 8, Zuri Matandara- Clarke was first on Beam and Bars with a 9.1 and 9.35, respectively, and second in the All Around with a score of 35.35.

President of the Jamaica Gymnastics Association, Nicole Grant, believe the performances of the gymnasts demonstrate the continued growth of the sport at the local level.

“Jamaica School of Gymnastics has transitioned since 2019 when we first built a state-of-the-art gymnasium which serves the gymnastics community well,” Grant said.

“The club has grown and has used much of the time during the Covid-19 pandemic to train our coaches to be more vigilant when it comes to technique and the gymnasts' physical and mental preparation.

 “As coach of the Level 7s and 8s along with coaches Nadeen Whyte (Recreational, 4 and 6) and Kerieon Grant (1-3) at the JSG club, we are elated that all the girls went out and did the best they could, knowing that they were competing internationally for the first time in two years as a club.

“They were up against more seasoned competitors and this made them very nervous but they went out and gave their best and for that, we are super proud of them.”

Grant said club managers Nadeen Whyte and Kerieon Grant have put in place a new and technical program for the girls and it showed in their execution. They also put in a lot of work to make this tour a success, she said.

“We must thank the parents, who helped to fund this competition as without their input it would not have been possible,” Grant said. “Shantel Jackson-Blake and Christina Francis, who manages the team, have done a wonderful job and we can’t thank them enough.

“We are also grateful to parents who chip in and help financially fund others and ensure that they do whatever they can to assist whether they are on the tour or at home.” 

She also expressed pride at the performance of the gymnasts from Westmoreland Gymnastics.

“Westmoreland Gymnastics is our sister club and we would like to really congratulate Coach Natanja Morris for the hard work put into the preparation of the 5 girls who have done very well,” the JGA president said.

The team is expected to arrive in Jamaica late Monday afternoon.

The Jamaica Gymnastics Association has received a boost in the form of well-needed equipment from the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).

Nicole Grant is of the view that the new additions to the board of the Jamaica Amateur Gymnastics Association will bring the required dynamism needed to take the sport forward in Jamaica.

President of the Jamaica Gymnastics Association has described Alana Walker’s historic bronze medal performance in women artistic gymnastics at the Junior Pan Am Gymnastics Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Saturday as a major boost for the sport locally, one that could help the association generate desperately needed funding.

The 14-year-old Walker scored 49.850 to finish third in the All-Around – bars, beam, floor and vault - that was won by the USA’s Katelyn Jong with a score of 54.10.  Her compatriot Madray Johnson scored 53.550 for second place. It was the first time that Jamaica has ever won a medal in gymnastics at a major event.

By winning the bronze medal, Alana, who is coached by Ashley Brooke Umberger at North Stars Gymnastics in Boonton, New Jersey, automatically qualifies for the Junior Pan Am Championships in Colombia later this year.

Grant, who spoke to Sportsmax.TV from Panama said this victory provides the push needed for the sport to continue to grow locally.

“Every appearance at any international competition of this nature is always a boost for the sport, that is what we thrive to be a part of and that is why we are working on our programme to ensure that we can participate and compete effectively as a country, as young as our sport is locally,” Grant told Sportsmax.TV today.

“This major win for us is very important to the growth and development of our local sport because it shows that we have the ability and the capability to do well in gymnastics.

“This is also a major boost for our young gymnasts who are preparing for a youth competition in Colombia later this year, the Pan American Age-Group Hopes Tournament where the age-group levels are from age eight right up to age 14 and she will also be competing in the elite category as well.”

Notwithstanding these achievements, Grant said, the sport continues to face significant obstacles.

“Our setback is equipment, landing equipment, something that we have been campaigning for, for some time now and it’s very important because when someone like Alana comes to Jamaica and trains at the gym, the landing equipment is not good enough at this time because of the kind of skills that she or he has,” Grant said.

“And that is why we are working so hard because when our elite athletes come to Jamaica they are in awe of the gym but as it relates to the landing aspect, it’s just not up to the standard and it’s really dangerous for them to train their high-level skills.”

Grant thanked the Jamaica Olympic Association, which she said, did not hesitate to provide funding for the trip, despite the ‘last-minute request’.  She also thanked Alana’s parents, who “have always been there and have put out a lot of effort to ensure that she got the documentation in order for her to compete at the event.

She also expressed her gratitude to Marlene Hylton-Williams, who was instrumental in helping Alana getting the license that allowed her to be able to compete and Naomi Valenza, who allowed Alana’s late entry to be accepted into the tournament.