On the up: Kai Torsvik does a spin up in the air while coach Artem Yakubov watches.
Camera IconOn the up: Kai Torsvik does a spin up in the air while coach Artem Yakubov watches. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Thornlie trampolinist bouncing at sport’s possibilities

Ben SmithComment News

KAI Torsvik knows life has its up and downs, but that’s partly because he spends most of his time on a trampoline.

The Thornlie resident is one of the state’s brightest trampolining prospects, having just been selected to represent Australia at the 2017 Trans-Tasman championships in New Zealand.

He is also in the midst of a fantastic competitive year, in which he finished fourth in the junior international trampoline and double mini trampoline at the Australian Gymnastics Championships and claimed a silver medal in the double mini trampoline team event.

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Torsvik, who trains at Southern Star Trampoline and Gymnastics Academy in O’Connor, also won back-to-back gold and silver in the trampoline and double mini trampoline respectively at the last two state championships.

He said his love for trampolines started at an early age and continues to this day.

“When I was a kid, I used to like jumping on the backyard trampoline and I asked my mum if I could do something where I would be able to jump on trampolines all the time,” he said.

Torsvik said while trampolining was obviously a physically challenging sport, the mental side of it often went un-noticed.

“You come across a lot of mental challenges with certain skills you’re doing, that would be the biggest struggle for most people,” he said.

His coach Artem Yakubov, who has been working with Torsvik since March, said his young charge’s work ethic set him apart.

“He’s great to work with. He’s quite a motivated guy,” he said.

“Before I started here he came to trampolining four times a week, now he trains every day and during this half-year where we’ve worked together, I can see he’s getting better.”

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