Gymnastic coach yearns for funding

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Top gymnastics coach Shin Nishida and his talented bunch of youngsters have been jumping, spinning, flipping and kicking up a storm on the international stage, expanding Jamaica's reputation as a sporting powerhouse and a nation that can succeed at whatever its people put their mind to.

In order for his charges to realise their full potential, however, the Japanese national says corporate Jamaica and the Government need to jump in.

One year after winning the Level Eight Men's Team Trophy, the gymnasts from Nishida's Gymnastics and Fitness Centre once again triumphed at the Sand Dollar/Whitlow Invitational Meet held at the ESPN Sports Centre, Orlando, Florida, late last month. This time, they took home the Men's Team Trophy for Level Nine.

In the 14-16 year old group, which featured a total of 46 boys, Daniel Williams of Norman Manley, St George's College's Jamin Melbourne Levy and Jiovannua Jackson of St Joseph's High, who formed last year's team at level eight, combined with Nicholas Tai, formerly of St George's, to wipe the floor of 16 competitors.

Gold medals

They won first, second, third and fourth all-round places, respectively. In the six individual events, Williams won gold in four: the floor, pommel horse, rings and vault events. Levy took gold in the other two events: parallel bars and high bar. In all, Williams collected five medals, Levy four, and Tai and Jackson one each.

The other member of the team and the youngest, 13-year-old Shacoy Bennett of Jamaica College competed against 29 boys in the 11-13 age group and despite not taking a top spot, contributed to the team's win, as they amassed 217.1 points.

The five other teams that competed in level were Lafleur's Tampa (209.6), FGTC (207.8), Harpeth Gymnastics (202.55), Great Northern (200.75) and GK Gymnastics (194.95); all US-based teams.

For the first time Nishida also brought along a team of three young male gymnasts aged seven years. They did not place as a team but Atario Brown came first in the vault event out of 100 boys between the ages of 6-9 years. In the 6-7 year old age group, Brown, Justin Watts and Shane Williams won a number of individual medals. Brown and Watts tied for ninth overall and Williams placed 14th out of 24 competitors.

Nishida would next like to tackle the Pan American Cup Championship later this year, but fears his team will not be able to do so due to lack of sponsorship.

"I was going to take Williams last year, but I couldn't find anybody who would fund us. It was in Brazil and to take one gymnast costs more than $100,000 and we just couldn't afford it," Nishida disclosed. "If we are able to get sponsors this year I don't mind taking the team," he added.

Nishida has in the past had to turn to his friends back home in Japan to fund the team's trips to tournaments, such as the one last month which had total expenses in the region of $400,000. He is however of the view that support should come for the sport, as the youngsters are doing well.

Nishida, who currently trains 10 competitive boys, 20 competitive girl and 56 recreational youngsters, came to Jamaica in the summer of 2004.