What Kind of Gymnastics Levels are there in Singapore?

I've gotten asked this question a few times from readers and friends back home. If you are familiar to the USAG Junior Olympic program, what I like to think is a pretty darn good comprehensive program for the development of top gymnasts, diggin' deep into the Singaporean levels systems can leave some of us to raise an eyebrow.  Yes, and I plan to do just that...dig a little deeper. But for now, here's a little overview. 

In Singapore, Singapore Gymnastics (SG) is the national governing body that runs the competitive system. This "10-year Long Term Plan for Gymnastics in Singapore to enter Top 12 in the World and Compete at the Olympics" system is broken up into two streams before the gymnast would compete F.I.G.:

Interview with Singapore's rising gymnastics Talent: Kelsie Muir

With less than a week away from the 2013 Singapore National Championships, gymnasts and coaches around the country are putting those last touches on their choreography and building confidence to showcase their upgraded routines. For most gymnastics fans in Singapore it is a chance to see how Kelsie Muir's gymnastics has matured in the past year.

Kelsie Muir (born 1999) is one of Singapore's most promising gymnasts. Over the years she has won many Singaporean competitions at every level and shows no signs of slowing down. For a gymnast her age she shows a remarkable degree of elegance and confidence, a true contest of the efforts of her long-time coach at Prime Gymnastics, Rachel Kennett.  Recently, Prime Gymnastics recruited High Performance Coach, Xu Heping, in efforts to take Kelsie's gymnastics to another level. Singaporean gymnastics fans are eagerly waiting to see Kelsie at this weekend's competition.

Here is a look at Kelsie in action from last year.

Here's a little interview of Singapore's rising star: Kelsie Muir

Coach Casie: What age did you start gymnastics? Why did you choose the sport?

Kelsie: 3.5 years old. I didn't choose it. My my put me in when I was young.

Coach Casie: What do you like about gymnastics?

Kelsie: Friendship, it keeps me fit and its FUN!

Coach Casie: Which new elements are you learning at the moment, which would you like to perform at this year's competitions?

Kelsie: I am learning a Ray on bars and a new dismount. BHC to Hecht with back tuck salto. (Mukhina, D)

Coach Casie: Which particularly difficult element would you like to master one day?

Kelsie: I would like to learn a full twisting vault (yurchenko) and the bar dismount (Mukhina) with a full twist.

Coach Casie: Do ou have a role-model for gymnastics?

Kelsie: The seniors at Prime Gymnastics.

Coach Casie: What event do you struggle with?

Kelsie: I struggle mostly on floor and vault because I keep getting injured.

Coach Casie: What are your coaches always having to remind you?

Kelsie: Knees, toes, head in.

Coach Casie: What is your dream future?

Kelsie: To represent Singapore in the Olympics.

Move to live, live to Move

This past week I was invited to the Singapore's Ministry of Education Physical Education and Sports Teacher Academy (PESTA for short) to conduct a workshop on behalf of Singapore Gymnastics. The workshop included ways to use music in warm-up activities and how to teach kids to move to rhythm, a cadence and essentially move to the music. 

Given that these P.E. teachers are fairly new in their professions and have very little gymnastics experience, I was expecting little input and a tough crowd to please. However, they blew me away with their enthusiasm and creativity. I hope this only trickles down to their instruction and motivates their students to do as the PESTA motto: Move to live, live to move!