The Game of Gymnastics

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.

Episode Description

In this episode of The Game of Gymnastics, Winston sits down with Jakub, the Parkour Sport Manager at World Gymnastics (formerly FIG), to unpack one of the most debated topics in modern gymnastics: why parkour now sits under the gymnastics umbrella — and where it’s heading next.

They discuss how parkour became part of World Gymnastics, whether it was truly a “takeover,” and the challenges of integrating a free, expressive movement culture into a structured competitive system.

Jakub explains how competitive parkour works — from speed to freestyle — how the Code of Points is evolving, and what’s being done to balance structure with creativity.

The conversation also dives into the Olympic question:
Is Brisbane 2032 realistic?
What’s standing in the way?
And would another gymnastics discipline have to be removed for parkour to enter?

This is an open, honest discussion about identity, governance, politics, and the future of urban sport within the Olympic system.

Key Takeaways

• Why parkour was incorporated into World Gymnastics
• Speed vs Freestyle competition formats
• How parkour judging works (and why it’s changing)
• The divide between competitive and non-competitive parkour
• Political challenges of Olympic inclusion
• Could parkour be in Brisbane 2032?
• How national federations are adapting worldwide

Best Moments

“It’s not a takeover — it’s another opportunity.”

“If you add parkour, you have to take something else out.”

“We want to grow inside the organisation but still keep our identity.”

“It’s a win-win — World Gymnastics needs parkour, and parkour needs World Gymnastics.”

Jakub's Social Links

https://www.instagram.com/world_outside_my_window?utm_source=qr&igsh=MXV6b3g4NXFxMjJqMA%3D%3D

My 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.

Episode Description

In this solo episode of The Game of Gymnastics, Winston breaks down his routines from the 2026 Welsh Championships — the first competition back following ankle surgery in November.

Recorded as a reaction-style deep dive, Winston analyses all three routines (Pommel Horse, Parallel Bars, and High Bar) in detail, unpacking what went right, what went wrong, and what the scores don’t always show.

From rebuilding dismount confidence post-surgery to navigating long waits between apparatus in a cold arena, this episode gives a raw, technical, and honest look at what it actually feels like to return to competition after injury. There were positives. There were frustrations. There were lessons.

This isn’t a highlight reel — it’s a process breakdown.

If you’re an athlete coming back from injury, struggling to replicate training in competition, or trying to balance perspective with ambition, this one’s for you.

Key Themes

• Returning to competition after ankle surgery
• Managing dismount risk and landing load
• When scores feel harsh — and how to respond
• The mental shift between training and competition
• Competing on three pieces instead of six
• Why “what if” score calculations only go so far
• Building toward English and British Championships

Best Moments

“I know I’m a better gymnast than what I showed.”

“It wasn’t perfect — but the point was to get back out there.”

“If you did this, something else would’ve happened — gymnastics doesn’t work in hypotheticals.”

“It wasn’t my finest competition… but I’ve got to dust myself off and go again.”

My 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.