'Dream come true' for World Championships gymnast

1 week ago 2

A 20-year-old from Devon has brought home a gold medal in the men's 17-21 tumbling at the World Championships.

Alfie Collier from Kingsteignton has been training at Newton Abbot Gymnastics Centre since the age of six.

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He said having the title world champion was still very surreal: "I was shocked to be honest and I think I'm still in shock now.

"It's a dream I've had since I was younger but I never thought it would have actually come true - it's crazy, it's all a bit of a blur really, it's incredible."

What is tumbling?

Gymnasts have a run up and then have to perform a series of acrobatic skills along a 25m (82ft) track. Competitors are judged on execution and difficulty of the elements involved.

The Tumbling World Championships took place in Spain in November 2025 at the World Age Group Competitions event.

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Mr Collier said it was a privilege to represent Great Britain in the sport and he had to increase his training before the event.

He said: "It's quite hard preparation, it's the biggest competition we have per year, so it's really important we're as prepared as possible.

"It included me upping my training hours, so I really had to put in the numbers to make sure I was prepared as possible."

A man standing inside a gymnasium wearing a UK navy blue leotard. A woman wearing a red hoodie has her arm around him.

Head Coach Tricia Hunt said Alfie was "a pleasure and an honour to teach" [BBC]

Head coach of Newton Abbot Gymnastics Centre Tricia Hunt has worked with Alfie for 14 years.

She first saw Alfie when he was six years old doing cartwheels in a viewing gallery while his sister was at the centre.

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It prompted her to speak to Mr Collier's parents to see if he wanted to join the club, which he did.

She said: "I'm so proud of him, I've worked with him throughout.

"He's gone from a not so confident gymnast to start with but now he has just excelled, lovely, confident, brilliant with all the other children in the gym and he's just a pleasure and an honour to teach."

Mr Collier currently attends the University of Warwick and combines his studies with his tumbling training.

He already has his sights set on competing in the senior world championships in China in 2026.

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