Jack’s just hanging out for SA

JOEL RITCHIE

PRIMBEE gymnast Jack Doyle is about to head to South Africa to

represent Australia in an elite

gymnastics event.

Doyle, 14, will leave for the Veldt on Monday for a two-week tour that will pit the nation's best level 8 gymnasts against their South African counterparts.

Doyle and his team mates will compete against their South African counterparts in an overall teams competition encompassing all six apparatus.

The Lake Illawarra High student said the tour would be the highlight of his gymnastics career, which

started when he was seven or eight at Lake Illawarra PCYC.

Although he is looking forward to all the events on the schedule, Doyle is particularly keen on the floor and vault.

Doyle finished fourth on floor at the recent national championships to book his trip to South Africa.

"I have never been overseas before " it will be fun and a great challenge," he said.

Although he is preparing to represent his nation, Doyle has no idea how far he wants to take his career.

"What happens, happens," he said.

Jack doesn't have any idols in the world of gymnastics.

Doyle endures three hour-hour sessions per week under the tutelage of Carmel & Co Warilla coach Matt Whitland.

"It's long hours but its worth it " I'd rather train here then move to the AIS," he said.

Jack started gymnastics after he was spotted by mobile gymnstics instructors as a youngster.

"They told my mum I should sign up and away I went," Jack said.

Among his family are mum Kerry, dad Ben, brother Tom and sister Jesse, who does gym at Lake Illawarra PCYC.