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The best in Great Britain
21/12/2006
MICHAEL Barnes is officially the top tumbler in the country - and budding stuntmen are taking up the opportunity to learn from him.
The 19-year-old from Worsley recently won the British Mens' Senior Tumbling Championships title in Stoke to add to the Great Britain team gold and individual bronze medals he picked up in May's European Tumbling Championships in Metz, France.
Barnes' ultimate dream is to be an acrobat in a circus. But he is busy at the moment studying for a media degree in Leeds - and helping other people fulfil their dreams.
Barnes said: "I've got a part-time coaching job at Wakefield Gymnastics Club. I'm teaching a wrestler and two people who want to be stuntmen.
"That's what they are training for. It's their dream but my dream is to be in the Cirque du Soleil, which is a touring circus. I could join now if I wanted as they have scouted me a few times.
"But I don't want to do that until 2009 or 2010. I've got lots of years of competition left in me and I want to get as many tumbling medals as I can.
"I've got five World Cup events coming up in 2007 but the big one is the World Tumbling Championships in Canada in November. I'll be looking for a team gold there and a top eight individual finish."
The former Walkden High School pupil was delighted to claim his first national title in Stoke.
He said: "It meant a lot to me. I only moved into the seniors last year so to have won the national title so soon is fantastic."
Most recent 2 of 2 user comments
24/12/2006 at 20:45
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Wish you the best (L...A)
Mick ton pote
27/12/2006 at 22:29