From the Gym to the World Stage: My Artistic Gymnastics Journey

Written by: Gooi Cheng Kai Jed (3P3, 2026)

What does it take to pursue excellence in sports while keeping up with school? For Jed, it has meant years of demanding training, setbacks, sacrifices and perseverance. From picking up gymnastics at five to competing on the international stage, his journey has shaped not only him as an athlete, but also as a student and individual. As a proud recipient of the Singapore Schools Sports Council (SSSC) 2026 Colours Award – Best Sportsboy Award (Artistic Gymnastics), Jed reflects on his journey and the lessons he has learnt along the way.

I started gymnastics at the age of five, when I joined a recreational class at Bazgym Gymnastics School. After a year, one of my coaches noticed my potential and encouraged me to try competitive gymnastics. I began training competitively at six under my former coach, Coach Bruce.

At eight, I competed in my first major competition, the National Gymnastics Championships. Despite being nervous, I emerged as the All-Around champion, winning five golds and a silver across the six apparatuses. I also received my first-ever trophy, making the achievement especially memorable.

By then, gymnastics had already become a major part of my life. I trained three to four days a week, for about three hours each day, with some sessions extending past 9 p.m. I remember showering in the toilets outside the gym and eating dinner in the car just to save time and get home earlier to rest.

At nine, I was invited to join the National Training Centre (NTC), but I decided to remain at Bazgym for another year because I wanted to spend more time with my friends. As more of my teammates moved to the NTC, however, I began to realise that I would eventually have to make a decision about my own path.

In 2021, at the age of ten, I finally decided to join the NTC. It was a difficult decision, but with the support of my family, friends and coaches, I took the leap. Although many of my new teammates had already been training there for several years, I worked hard to catch up with them within a few months.

That marked a new chapter in my gymnastics journey. Under the guidance of my current coach, Coach Ryosuke Kusumi, my training increased to six days a week, at about four and a half hours a day. I began competing more regularly and steadily developed my skills across the different apparatuses.

In 2024, I participated in my first overseas competition, the JRC in Thailand, together with four teammates. Although I did not achieve the individual results I had hoped for, our team finished third. More importantly, competing against gymnasts from other countries taught me how to perform under pressure and motivated me to train even harder.

Earlier that year, I had also injured my left shoulder and had to withdraw from my first Secondary School National School Games (NSG). I was disappointed, but the experience taught me an early lesson in resilience: setbacks are part of the journey, and what matters is how I respond to them.

In 2025, I returned to the NSG and achieved seven gold medals across the events I competed in, including Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse, Rings, Vault, Parallel Bars and Horizontal Bar. I was particularly proud of achieving a new personal best All-Around score while successfully adding several new and more demanding skills to my routines.

Later that year, I competed in the Horizon Cup in Greece, where I placed first in both the team and All-Around categories, as well as winning gold, silver and bronze on different apparatuses. I also attended an overseas training camp in China, where I trained alongside Chinese gymnasts and learnt a great deal from their exceptionally high level of skill.

In 2026, I was finally old enough to compete as a junior and qualified for the National Squad through the National Championships in March. I also competed in the NSG, winning four gold medals and one bronze despite being injured and competing in only four apparatuses.

I subsequently qualified for the Asian Championships in Zunyi, China, as a specialist on the junior team. I competed on Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse and Parallel Bars to contribute to the team's overall score. As the youngest member of the team, I was nervous about competing at my first major international competition, especially in China, home to some of the world's strongest gymnasts.

The stadium was packed with spectators, creating an intense atmosphere. Fortunately, my teammates supported one another, helping each other stay calm and cheering each other on. Despite my nerves, I successfully completed all my routines without any major mistakes. Although our team finished ninth and none of us qualified for the finals, we achieved a much better team score than we had expected and gained invaluable experience. We also had the unforgettable opportunity to meet gymnasts we look up to, including Zhang Boheng and Carlos Yulo.

Throughout my gymnastics journey, I have learnt to manage my time, stay disciplined and make sacrifices for something I am passionate about. Balancing elite-level training with school is not easy. Many days, I rush straight from school to the gym at around 4 p.m. and return home at about 9.30 p.m. I then still have homework and revision to complete, sometimes staying up until midnight before waking at 5.30 a.m. for school.

The path I have chosen has certainly been challenging, but I have never regretted it. Gymnastics has taught me much more than how to perform skills and compete. It has taught me discipline, resilience and perseverance. I have learnt to manage my time, stay focused under pressure and keep working towards my goals even when things do not go according to plan.

I have also learnt that success is not always about winning. Some of my most valuable experiences came from setbacks, such as injuries, disappointing results and difficult decisions. These experiences taught me to be patient, learn from mistakes and keep moving forward. Competing alongside talented athletes has also shown me the importance of humility, teamwork and supporting others.

Most importantly, I have learnt to appreciate the people who make this journey possible. My family, friends, teammates and coaches have supported me through both the difficult and rewarding moments. Their encouragement has reminded me that no achievement is ever accomplished alone.

There is still a long way to go, and I know there will be more challenges ahead. But I am grateful for every experience that has brought me here. I hope to continue pushing myself, not only to become a better gymnast, but also a more disciplined, resilient and well-rounded person.