She might only be nine-years-old but Arkie Cheek’s gymnastic talent and skill took her all the way to nationals where she competed among the best, placing fifth of 47 competitors.
Travelling from Montrose to the Gold Coast to compete at the Australian Gymnastics Championships, having won the Victorian State Championships in May, this was Arkie’s first nationals appearance finally hitting the age requirement.
Arkie competed in the women’s level 5 tumbling event, which takes place in an arena with all kinds of gymnastics happening around you.
“It was exciting and also, at the same time, it was nerve-wracking, because you feel that you were not going to do your best, because you’re against the competitors, and going up there, it was terrifying,” Arkie said.
The youngest in her age group, Arkie was competing against 13 year olds but made it through each of the four rounds, proving her age was no barrier.
Allowed two practice passes before having to compete, Arkie said this ensures competitors know how long their run up and routine can be before dismounting onto the mat.
“You have to figure out the furthest distance away, where you think you’re going to land, at the very edge, and then you do your dismount onto the mat,” she said.
Missing the mat is an immediate deduction in the scoring system. Unfortunately, in one of Arkie’s first attempts, she missed the mat by a step, seeing her lose 0.4 of a point.
Despite this, she made up for the deduction throughout each round, improving at each pass, making it into the finals and at one point, equaling the score of the competitor who came first.
Using a positive visualisation technique to calm her mind, Arkie said something else that helps is turning around while others do their routine.
“When you’re standing there, you have to think of your whole routine because if you’re thinking of what you’re having for dinner tonight, you will not focus on your routine, and you would perhaps mess up,” she said.
“If they fail and you’re watching, then you’ll think, ‘Oh, that girl fell over. What if I fall over?’ And then you’re and then you’re not thinking positively.
“So if you turn around and she falls over, you won’t know exactly if they fall over or not, because you turned around.”
Starting gymnastics when she was five, Arkie now trains Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, while also fitting in callisthenics.
“When you first start, you have to know how to do cartwheels, handstands and simple tricks that don’t include going backwards or forwards,” she said.
“And then you have to learn running so you can run fast. Then instead of doing a cartwheel, you do a round off, where you come down the two feet, because that’s how you start your tumbling.
“After you’ve got used to all of the simple tricks, you get harder tricks, like a simple backhand spring or back tuck with spot.”
Arkie’s love of tumbling is also sparked by a competitive nature and wanting to improve each one of her flips and tricks.
With the National Club Carnival in September, Arkie has her eye set on preparing for the open age competition.
But long term, the goal is to get to “the biggest competition”, hopefully the Olympics if tumbling is added to the roster.
