The Game of Gymnastics

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.

Episode Description

In part two of this interview, Winston continues his conversation with World Medallist Jaydon Paddock — diving into the emotional side of elite sport, his love for team competition, the unexpected moment at his black belt exam that ended in an ambulance, and his remarkable journey into the world of stunt work.

Jaydon opens up about the highs and lows of competition, but also a blood clot and seizure during a martial arts exam that sent him to hospital, cut him off from the sport and the job he loves, and forced him to reframe everything.

From his determination to make a comeback, to his love for film, stunts, and performance — this is a raw, insightful look into what drives an athlete when medals aren’t the only thing on the line.


Team vs Individual Mindset
Jaydon talks about why he thrives under pressure in team finals, and the unspoken brotherhood behind GB’s tumbling success.


Stunts, Setbacks & Survival
Jaydon recounts his path into the stunt world, working on Argylle, Spider-Man, and more — before a sudden seizure sidelined him from everything.


The Fight to Return
Honest reflections on injury, impatience, gratitude, and the emotional toll of being forced to rest — even when your body feels fine.

Best Moments

“I’ve always had the reputation of being reliable. You put my hand up, you’re getting this — or you’re getting this.”

"I do tumbling because I enjoy it. It hasn’t felt like a job, even though it’s given me every opportunity I could’ve asked for."

“I didn’t feel unfit. That’s the thing — I’d never felt fitter. ”

"We came together, we leave together — whether it's with a medal or not."

"Never in my life am I going to look at a bottle of water the same again."

Jaydon's Socials

Instagram

Winston's Socials

InstagramTikTok

The Game of Gymnastics- Understanding The Game

Buy the book

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.