Local Team Wins Glory At World Acrobatics Competition

Gold and Silver for young acrobats during their visit to China

A number of teenagers from Chiswick were part of the British Acrobatics team, which won Gold and Silver medals while competing for Great Britain at the World Acrobatic Competition in China.

Aidan Lim, Alex Papworth, Bertie Cardillo-Zallo, Christian Cox were victorious in the Men's Group 12 -18 Category at the 9th Acrobatic Gymnastics World Age Group Competitions in Putian City, China.

Max with his silver medal and dad Sean

The boys won gold in their category beating Kazakhstan (silver) and Portugal (bronze) with a score of 27.750.

The boys train with Richmond Gymnastics Association. Aidan and Alex live in Chiswick. They both used to attend Chiswick and Bedford Park Preparatory School.

Their team mates from Richmond Gymnastics Association also won gold for their category of 12-18 Women's Trio.

Fourteen year old Max Crawford, the eldest son of Sean and Melanie Crawford (Sean is AKA W4 Handyman) was one of those who came second, in the 11-16 age category (see top picture) His team won Silver in the Junior Men’s Four Event at the World Age Group Competition in China, beating the host team China and the American team, but pipped by the Russians, who won gold

Max competed with team members, Daniel Axford (13yrs Guildford), Jacob Robinson (12yrs from Kingston)  and Leo Keenan (11yrs Guildford), who have only been together as a partnership for five months. They put in 20 hours a week with training somedays starting at 6.45am before going to school.

There was a huge amount of local support for the team from Chiswick residents, and Sean Crawford also travelled to China to support his son

Their success comes after months of intensive training followed by trials at Loughborough University and Lilleshall National Sports Centre. Max along with his Junior Men’s team from Heathrow Gym had completed the British Acrobatics competitions in top position to be selected for the honour to represent their country.

The competition in Putian, China took place from 20 to 29 March 2016 and they were pitted against USA, Russia 1 and 2, Australia and host China, but having been coached by Adam McAssey (previous World Men’s Four winner and a member of Spellbound, Britain’s Got Talent Winner) they were hopeful of giving a good performance and are delighted to be returning home victorious.

top to bottom: Leo Keenan, Jacob Robinson, Daniel Axford and Max Crawford

April 5, 2016