Keysborough gymnast Philip Koe-Leong, 7, displays his medal haul from the Victorian Championships (above), and gets in some practice in the playground at Wallarano Primary School (right).By Paul Pickering
SOON after he could walk, Philip Koe-Leong was giving his parents hints of a future in gymnastics.
As a toddler, he would perform impromptu acrobatic displays inside his Keysborough home.
So his mum Rosalind and dad Gerard decided enough was enough.
“He started climbing on the door frames at the age of four, so we said he might as well learn how to do it safely,” Rosalind explained with a laugh.
Three years later, Philip is one of the state’s elite junior gymnasts, claiming four gold medals in the Victorian Championships earlier this month.
The Wallarano Primary School student led his age group (6-8) in four of the six gymnastic disciplines, and his accumulated advantage earned him the overall title.
Philip was congratulated by his teachers and classmates at an assembly last week, and he said he felt “very proud” of his efforts.
When questioned as to his favourite apparatus, he doesn’t hesitate.
“The floor (exercise), because you can do backflips,” he said.
Since his first sessions at the Cheltenham Youth Club (CYC), Philip has taken to gymnastics with a determination that surprises even his mum.
“Once he started he never deviated for one moment, he wanted to do gymnastics every day,” she said.
Philip now completes three two-hour training sessions each week, meaning that gymnastics has become part of the family routine.
As he gets older and stronger, Philip will be expected to dedicate even more time to his chosen sport, but Rosalind has no doubt he will stick with it.
“He’s very focused. He’s aiming for the Olympics in 12 years and is looking forward to watching the Beijing Olympics on TV,” she said.
And despite the long haul ahead, Philip already has a healthy appetite for success.
Asked what he enjoys most about the sport, his answer is that of a true competitor.
“The funnest thing is winning medals,” he said.
