No bar to Aidan’s success

By Gavin Staindl
NORTH CRANBOURNE gymnast Aiden Roberts is swinging on to big things after finishing first in the parallel bars at the Victorian Open Gymnastics tournament held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
The level five 14-year-old, the only gymnast from his club at Funtastic Gymnastics in Berwick to reach level five, qualified in third position in the bars with a score of 9.150.
By qualifying in the top six from a field of 18, Roberts was given the opportunity to return two days later to compete for the title.
After a series of twists and turns and a solid dismount Roberts was awarded 9.2 and in claiming the title became the only competitor to reach a score of nine or higher.
Roberts admitted it was a “really good” routine but only when he saw the expression on coach Steve Smith’s face did he realise how good the performance was.
“I thought it was really good but when I finished and I saw the smile on my coach’s face I knew I had done well then,” Roberts said.
Roberts signed up with Funtastic Gymnastics as a nine-year old after being persuaded by the elated feeling of jumping on trampolines at home.
Since then, Roberts has competed in two Victorian Open championships and become one of the best boy gymnasts in the area.
Over the six apparatus in the tournament Roberts finished 10th overall, with his best scores coming from the vault, the parallel bars and the high bars.
“I like the high bars because they’re fun, but I’m better at the T-bars,” Roberts said.
Roberts is in the process of becoming a complete gymnast who can compete across all apparatus at a higher level.
When asked what his greatest attribute was, Roberts replied his determination to train.
“(My best attribute) is training. Just train and that is it … I train three nights a week and sometimes I’ll go down to the centre on other days to do more,” Roberts said.
At the moment his level five is the highest level at his club in Berwick, but Roberts is hoping to advance to a level six or seven by the next Victorian Open.
“I am hoping to reach seven by next year. It will take a lot of work … and maybe I can reach level 10 which is the level reached by international competitors,” Roberts said.