The Game of Gymnastics

Episode Description

In this episode of The Game of Gymnastics, Winston sits down with Joe Fishburn — TeamGym European silver and bronze medallist, gymnastics coach, school speaker, and the ultimate male winner of Gladiators Season 2 — to talk about his journey through sport, performance, and adversity.

Joe shares how he first got into gymnastics, why TeamGym became his discipline, and how a career that didn’t always look exceptional on paper in the early years eventually led to major international medals for Team GB. He reflects on the setbacks, injuries, missed selections, and long-term persistence that shaped him into the athlete and person he is today.

The conversation also dives into his experience on Gladiators — how the opportunity came about, what the process was really like behind the scenes, and how his gymnastics background prepared him for the physical and mental demands of the show. From pressure and performance to self-belief and handling the spotlight, Joe gives an honest look at what it took to go all the way and win it.

At the heart of the episode is Joe’s mindset around adversity. He explains why he so often says “adversity is my superpower,” how personal hardship has shaped his outlook on life, and why he believes setbacks can become the very thing that pushes you towards growth, purpose, and long-term success.

A thoughtful and inspiring conversation about gymnastics, resilience, perspective, and making the most of the challenges life throws at you.

Key Topics

• How Joe first got into gymnastics and found TeamGym
• Why TeamGym suited him and what makes it such a spectator-friendly discipline
• The long road to international success and why his best years came later
• European Championship experiences, setbacks, and winning medals for Team GB
• How the opportunity to compete on Gladiators came about
• What Gladiators was really like physically and mentally
• Why Joe believes adversity can be a powerful force for growth
• Advice for athletes dealing with setbacks, pressure, and self-doubt

Best Moments

“I was generally very average for quite a while.”

“I had the best day and the worst day at the same competition.”

“I think every single thing has a purpose in your life.”

“You have to have something a little bit wrong with you.”

“Adversity can often be the greatest thing to build you into the person you can become.”

Joe's Social Links

https://www.instagram.com/joeyfishburn/

https://www.jf-coaching.co.uk/

https://kinship.org.uk/our-work-and-impact/news/kinships-new-ambassador-joe-fishburn/

My Social Links

⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wpowell05/⁠⁠⁠

https://www.tiktok.com/@winstonpowell5

The Game of Gymnastics: Understanding The Game (e-Book)

https://payhip.com/b/f6RjV

Host Bio

As a member of the Senior Great Britain Squad, Winston Powell brings firsthand experience to every episode. His impressive achievements include being the Under 18 English Champion in 2023 and reaching the finals in three events at the Junior World Championships the same year: the All-Around, Parallel Bars, and Horizontal Bar finals qualifying 7th for the All-Around. With five international appearances as a GB gymnast, he has gained invaluable insights into the sport's highest levels. His passion for gymnastics, combined with his deep understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by elite athletes, makes him the perfect guide to exploring the strategies and stories behind gymnastics success.

Episode Description

In this episode of The Game of Gymnastics, Winston reflects on his performance at the British Championships — a competition that didn’t go to plan, despite feeling more prepared going in.

He breaks down each apparatus from the competition, highlighting the positives, the mistakes, and the fine margins that made the difference. From a strong vault and improved routines on pommel and rings, to costly errors on parallel bars, high bar, and floor, Winston gives a full, honest account of what happened and why.

Beyond the routines, this episode dives into the mental side of competing — the frustration of not replicating training in competition, the impact of pressure, and the doubts that come with repeated near-misses. He explores the gap between where he is and where he wants to be, and the challenge of consistently delivering when it matters most.

Looking ahead, Winston discusses what needs to change moving into the British Team Championships — the final opportunity for Commonwealth Games selection — and how he plans to approach training, routines, and mindset in order to move forward.

A raw and honest reflection on performance, setbacks, and the process of improving at the highest level of the sport.

Key Topics

• Full breakdown of routines from the British Championships
• The impact of small mistakes and fine margins in competition
• Differences between training performance and competition performance
• Managing pressure and expectations
• Injuries and preparation leading into competition
• The mental challenges of consistency and confidence
• Routine construction and skill progression moving forward
• Preparing for British Team Championships and Commonwealth Games selection

Best Moments

“Every mistake I made was only a margin... but at this level, one degree off, and that's it”

“I felt as prepared as I could have been, given the circumstances.”

“Why am I not doing in competition what I know I've done in training?”

“It’s about what I take from this and how I move forward.”

My Social Links

⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wpowell05/⁠⁠⁠

https://www.tiktok.com/@winstonpowell5

The Game of Gymnastics: Understanding The Game (e-book)

https://payhip.com/b/f6RjV

Host Bio

As a member of the Senior Great Britain Squad, Winston Powell brings firsthand experience to every episode. His impressive achievements include being the Under 18 English Champion in 2023 and reaching the finals in three events at the Junior World Championships the same year: the All-Around, Parallel Bars, and Horizontal Bar finals qualifying 7th for the All-Around. With five international appearances as a GB gymnast, he has gained invaluable insights into the sport's highest levels. His passion for gymnastics, combined with his deep understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by elite athletes, makes him the perfect guide to exploring the strategies and stories behind gymnastics success.

Episode Description

In this episode of The Game of Gymnastics, Winston sits down with Leo Westbrook — athlete, coach, and self-proclaimed biggest fan of DMT — to shine a light on one of the most overlooked but exciting disciplines in gymnastics: Double Mini Trampoline.

Leo talks through how he first got into gymnastics, why DMT grabbed his attention so early on, and what has kept him involved in the sport for nearly 20 years. From competing at national and international level to now coaching the next generation, he shares the highs of his own career, how his perspective has changed over time, and why he believes DMT deserves far more recognition than it currently gets.

The conversation also breaks down what DMT actually is, how it’s scored, why it’s so difficult, and what separates a good DMT athlete from a great one. Leo also gives insight into the current state of the discipline in Britain, the progression pathways for young athletes, and what he hopes to achieve in the sport going forward.

Whether you know nothing about DMT or already love the discipline, this is a great deep dive into a side of gymnastics that more people should be paying attention to.

Key Topics

• How Leo first got into gymnastics and then into DMT
• What makes Double Mini Trampoline so exciting to watch and compete in
• Leo’s highlights as an athlete, including England selection and British silver
• The transition from athlete to coach
• What DMT actually is and how the scoring works
• The rise in difficulty and the current “skill inflation” in the sport
• Why DMT still doesn’t get the recognition it deserves
• What the future could look like for the discipline in Britain

Best Moments

“It was quite accessible. Like I only had to do two skills at a time.”

“I think it’s the sport that captures my attention the most.”

“It’s really exciting time to be a DMT fan.”

“I don’t think it is getting the recognition it deserves, but I do think it’s getting a lot more recognition.”

“If you don’t ever make it to the top level, by app, you’ve still got a load of cool videos to show your mates.”

Leo's Social Links

https://www.instagram.com/leowestbrook/

My Social Links

⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wpowell05/⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@winstonpowell5

The Game of Gymnastics: Understanding the Game (e-Book)

https://payhip.com/b/f6RjV

Host Bio

As a member of the Senior Great Britain Squad, Winston Powell brings firsthand experience to every episode. His impressive achievements include being the Under 18 English Champion in 2023 and reaching the finals in three events at the Junior World Championships the same year: the All-Around, Parallel Bars, and Horizontal Bar finals qualifying 7th for the All-Around. With five international appearances as a GB gymnast, he has gained invaluable insights into the sport's highest levels. His passion for gymnastics, combined with his deep understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by elite athletes, makes him the perfect guide to exploring the strategies and stories behind gymnastics success.

Episode Description

In this solo episode of The Game of Gymnastics, Winston tackles one of the most debated questions in the sport: which apparatus is actually the hardest?

Drawing on his experience as an elite gymnast, Winston breaks down each apparatus in men’s artistic gymnastics — floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar — exploring the different factors that make them difficult. From raw power and brutal landings to extreme technical precision and nerve under pressure, every piece presents its own unique challenge.

Rather than simply picking one answer, Winston looks at the sport from multiple angles: physical strain, technical complexity, consistency, risk, and the difference between training difficulty and competition pressure.

Whether you’re a gymnast, coach, or just curious about how the sport really works, this episode offers an inside look at why every apparatus demands something different — and why the “hardest” event may depend on who you ask.

Key Takeaways

Why “Hardest” Is a Difficult Question:
Every gymnast experiences the apparatus differently. Winston explains why strength, technique, consistency and confidence all influence which events feel hardest.

Floor:
Big tumbling passes require enormous power and perfect landing control, with mistakes heavily punished by judges.

Pommel Horse:
One of the most technically demanding events in gymnastics, where even a tiny loss of rhythm can end a routine instantly.

Rings:
Static holds, strength elements and strict body control make rings one of the most physically demanding apparatus in the sport.

High Bar:
Huge release moves and precise timing mean gymnasts must perform some of the hardest skills in the sport while managing extreme pressure.

And more...

Social Links

⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wpowell05/⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@winstonpowell5

The Game of Gymnastics: Understanding the Game (e-Book)

https://payhip.com/b/f6RjV

Host Bio

As a member of the Senior Great Britain Squad, Winston Powell brings firsthand experience to every episode. His achievements include becoming the 2023 Under-18 English Champion and qualifying for three finals at the Junior World Championships (All-Around, Parallel Bars and Horizontal Bar). With multiple international appearances representing Great Britain, Winston shares unique insights into elite training, competition and the realities of high-level gymnastics.

Episode Description

In this episode of The Game of Gymnastics, Winston sits down with parkour athlete, filmmaker, and STORROR Female Athlete of the Year Lisa Schneider to explore the world of parkour — from its roots in movement and creativity to the ongoing debate around competition and its inclusion under FIG.

Lisa talks through her own journey from gymnastics and trampolining into parkour, how her style has evolved over the years, and why parkour is so difficult to define. She explains what draws her to the sport beyond competition, the creative freedom that makes it special, and why video projects have become such a big part of how she expresses herself.

The conversation also dives into one of the biggest current discussions in the sport: competitive parkour. Lisa shares her honest thoughts on FIG competitions, the challenges of judging such a subjective discipline, whether parkour really fits the Olympic model, and why she believes the community still needs more support — especially on the women’s side.

It’s an open and thoughtful conversation about movement, creativity, identity, and where parkour might be heading next.

Key Topics

• Lisa’s journey from gymnastics and trampolining into parkour
• How her parkour style has changed over time
• Why parkour is so hard to define
• The balance between freedom, creativity, and competition
• Why video projects matter so much in parkour culture
• The public perception of parkour and why Lisa wants to change it
• FIG competitions, Olympic ambitions, and the judging problem
• Why female parkour athletes need more support and visibility

Best Moments

“I think competition is necessary to grow the sport in a way.”

“I want to make parkour more approachable to people that don’t necessarily do parkour.”

“We do it because we want to push ourselves and we enjoy the high you get after you do something well.”

“I think one of the biggest issues is that people are really struggling to make a living from the sport.”

Lisa's Social Links

https://www.instagram.com/lisaa_schneider98/

Gatecrasher Project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4izoWYFmNg0

Winston's Social Links

⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wpowell05/⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@winstonpowell5

The Game of Gymnastics: Understanding the Game (eBook)

https://payhip.com/b/f6RjV

Host Bio

As a member of the Senior Great Britain Squad, Winston Powell brings firsthand experience to every episode. His impressive achievements include being the Under 18 English Champion in 2023 and reaching the finals in three events at the Junior World Championships the same year: the All-Around, Parallel Bars, and Horizontal Bar finals qualifying 7th for the All-Around. With five international appearances as a GB gymnast, he has gained invaluable insights into the sport's highest levels. His passion for gymnastics, combined with his deep understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by elite athletes, makes him the perfect guide to exploring the strategies and stories behind gymnastics success.