Olympic Interview (courtesy of John Beckford)

 

This summer sees Trampolining included in the Olympics for the second time.  The International Olympic Committee recently awarded one of the wildcard places to GB in the Men’s Trampoline. This was awarded on merit based on World Championship results (we already had a place in the ladies competition). There will be 16 competitors in each of the men’s and ladies competitions in Athens in August.

 

There were a series of three GB Olympic trials and Gary Smith secured the Men’s place with Simon Milnes in reserve. Kirsten Lawton took the Ladies place with Claire Wright in the reserve slot.

 

Gary trains at Jumpers and kindly spared time to give an interview to John Beckford (editor of the SE Region Broadsheet – Trampolining & DMT).  John has generously agreed to allow me to reproduce this on our site and I hope you will agree it is worth reading! 

 

Gary is a lovely and genuine person, and as someone from our region who we see on the circuit regularly, we at Gatwick Flyers will all be rooting for him and Kirsten in Athens. - Good Luck to you both...from all at Gatwick Flyers.

 

 

Ed: Gary, thanks for clearing this part of your diary of all other things so you can devote this time to talk to us.

Gary: What? I see you about 4 times a week anyway – hang on it’s my go now – back in a minute.

(Gary practices a few rudi out triffs – the first move of the 16.5 tariff routine he completed at the last grade1 – then sits down to continue the grilling)

 

Ed: When did you start trampolining?

Gary: About one o’clock – I had a bit of a lay-in then drove up from my house – it’s less than 10 minutes away.

 

Ed: No what I meant was when did you first take up trampolining?

Gary: Right, why didn’t you ask that in the first place, when I was about 10.

 

Ed: Can you give me your impression of Martin Laws (Ed: – Gary’s main coach for the last 10+ years)

Gary: I’m sorry I don’t do impressions, and anyway to do that I’d have to kneel down and I’m trying to keep my whites clean.

 

Ed: Okay – What’s it like working with Martin?

Gary: I’ve never really thought about it, since I first started he’s always been there, so I’ve never known any different, it just sort of ‘works’, we don’t have arguments, we have a lot of laughs and there is a lot of mickey taking (Ed: ‘mickey taking’ is the cleaned up version)

 

Ed: Are there any downsides to having Martin as a coach?

Gary: Ooooh tricky one…I suppose the main one is when we go out for a laugh…to say a theme park, it’s a bit of a blow that he’s not tall enough to go on most of the rides…his little face drops and he has to hold our bags until we get back. So sometimes we go on the scenic rides, his eyes light up and he’s always at the front of the queue – we let him drive the train!!

 

Ed: How did you find Athens? (Gary’s just returned from a test event there)

Gary: No trouble really I think the pilot had been there before so he found it first time.

 

Ed: You’ve recently returned from the Olympic Test Event in Athens – what was that all about?

Gary: It was really to allow the organisers to check out the venue, the equipment, the logistics etc. I had a great time and really enjoyed it. Kirsten and myself both qualified for the finals (Ed: top 8 final only at internationals). I finished in 5th and Kirsten 7th. We were both very pleased with our performances. When I qualified for the finals in 3rd place (Ed: the scores are zeroed for the finals) I could see Martin shaking in the seating. The trampolining venue is finished but there is still a lot of work going on in Athens to finish many of the other venues and facilities.

 

Ed: John Beer (National Squad Director) was telling me about the air pollution in Athens – does this bother you?

Gary: Look, when you consider some of the lads I’ve had to share rooms with at Travel Inns for competitions over the years a bit of Carbon Monoxide is nothing I can assure you, and there’s probably a lot less risk of combustion!

 

Ed: What’s it like travelling to comps as part of the Jumpers squad in the mini bus usually with Giles O’Connor (Natalie’s Dad – Edgebarrow) driving?

Gary: Martin’s very keen that we arrive at competitions in tip top condition so he always insists that we stop every two hours or so and stretch our legs (Ed: what no jokes about Martin stretching his legs!!). Usually this means Martin has nothing to do for a while so he has a cigarette, once he has finished it means we have stretched our legs enough and we can get on our way again. I often think he’d be a lot healthier if we didn’t need to stretch our legs so much!

 

Ed: For as long as I can remember you’ve always had a mantra of “Train like a Russian”….Following your brilliant result at the Olympic Test Event, where you really got ‘in amongst them’ is this still the case?

Gary: It wasn’t a case of wanting to be like them, more like recognition that their approach to training etc was what gets results. I like to think I’ve adopted some of their approach but I’m still me, I’ve got the mix that is right for me.

 

Ed: Where have your feet gone?

Gary: What – last time I looked they were still on the ends of my legs!!

 

Ed: No – not too many years ago you were banging out some of the more difficult routines at Grade One but not achieving the style marks, I remember National Coaches and Judges alike saying ‘his feet look like enormous plates of meat on the ends of his whites, if only he’d point his toes his scores would be so much higher’ – what happened?

Gary: I don’t really remember the point they ‘went away’, but you’re right, when I learnt to point my toes throughout the whole move I started to get the scores I’d been looking for. It’s a valuable point to remember for all grades of competitors – tariff doesn’t help if you don’t have the style to go with it.

 

Ed: Ah you mention tariff – at the London Grade 1 you put out a 16.5 in the final of the Men’s Competition. I see the tariff of your first move is higher than that of the whole routine for quite a lot of the competitors at the 3-5 comp. By the time we’ve added up the first three moves it blows most of the tariff limits at 3-5.

Gary: Yes it does, the first 3 moves are 5.4 tariff, they are…

                   Move                      Tariff

                   Rudi-out triff piked         2.0

                   ½ in Rudi out piked           1.6

                   ½ out triff piked              1.8

 

Ed: If you were any good at football which club would you want to play for?

Gary: What do you mean ‘if I was any good…’ it would of course be the Mighty Blues (Ed: I think he means Chelsea)

 

Ed: To be honest you’ve got more chance of making it as a fisherman than as a footballer.

Gary: I do like my fishing. I did have one strange experience when the Japanese squad were training at the Rebound Centre between World Cup Events in 2000.  I went fishing with one of their coaches, but he didn’t speak a word of English – still I expect fishing in the Medway off Chatham pier was a bit of an experience for him too.  At least I didn’t have to eat sushi.

 

Ed: I note part of your training regime consists of regular curries, what’s your favourite dish?

Gary: Yes I’m partial to a Ruby now and again my favourite is Lamb Tikka Korai.

 

Ed.: What are your plans whilst you’re in Athens for the Olympics?

Gary: I think I can stay in the Athletes Village for whatever time I want so I’d like to take the opportunity to see some of the other events; I don’t know how easy that will be. I definitely go and support Kirsten (Ed: The Ladies event is a day before the Men’s)  looks like I should be able to go and support the GB Gymnastics as well so I’ll try to do that. You never know I might even get time for sightseeing after my event.

 

Ed.: Your parents - how have they helped you in your trampolining career?

Gary: I’ve been very lucky my Mum and my Dad have always given me, the club and coaches their full support, they come and watch whenever they can, they’ve got their tickets for Athens. But even when they weren’t able to come and watch they’ve given me the support I needed

I think they’re proud of me (Ed: I know they are they’ve often told me)  They’re obviously pleased when I do well but they never got on my case if I didn’t They’ve never said ‘why didn’t you….’, or ‘so and so is doing…..why aren’t you?’. I can’t think of any time where I felt they’ve put any pressure on me.

 

Ed.: Matt Swaffer says he’s the reason you qualified for the Olympics (he trained with Lee Brearly just before he got the G.B. Olympic slot in 2000) He says he’s going to hire himself out to potential qualifiers for the 2008 Olympics.

Gary: What can I say about Matt (that’s printable) I’ve trained with Matt for years, except when he went to Manchester to University (and to give Lee his guidance!). We’re very different characters but have always got on well. We’ve been synchro partners many times. I thought I’d give the last Grade 1 a miss to give Matt a chance, and he took it and won the competition – only kidding I was still on my way back from Athens, but I was very pleased to see Matt back to his old form

 

 

 

I’d like to thank Gary for this valuable insight (!) into his world. Seriously though Gary is one of the nicest blokes I’ve ever met and I’d like to add my sincere best wishes to all of those he’s already received from well-wishers all over the country.  Gary when you get to Athens, remember as I always tell you “Sort It”.

 

John Beckford Editor S.E.Broadsheet)