The Game of Gymnastics

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.

Episode Description:
In this episode, Winston sits down with Jaydon Paddock — a World and European champion in tumbling and one of the UK’s most dynamic athletes — to talk about his journey through elite competition, mindset under pressure, and what makes tumbling such a unique and brutal discipline.

Jaydon opens up about growing up in the sport, transitioning from artistic and acro gymnastics into tumbling, and building an international medal-winning career with Team GB. He shares the behind-the-scenes realities of World Championships, how he handles high-stakes competitions, and why Birmingham 2023 was the most emotional moment of his career.

From Power Ranger dreams to performing in front of sold-out arenas, Jaydon’s story blends hard graft, big ambition, and a deep love for the sport.

Key Takeaways


Finding Tumbling: Why artistic didn’t quite fit and how tumbling became the perfect outlet for Jaydon’s energy, mindset, and strengths.


Rapid-Fire Sport: What makes tumbling different from other disciplines — and why a split-second mistake can end a competition before it begins.


World & European Success: Jaydon reflects on major team victories, individual medals, and key milestones across junior and senior careers.


The Social Side of Sport: How friendships, mentors, and the gymnastics community have shaped his life both on and off the track.


World Games & Setbacks: Inside his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at the World Games, the heartbreak of a fall, and the lessons learned through it all.

Best Moments

“I've got the attention span of a Labrador... tumbling works for me.”
“When something goes wrong, it happens instantly — your feet are one inch off and you're straight to the floor.
“It’s not a job — it’s a glorified hobby, even though it's given me all the opportunities I could've ever asked for”
“I started this because I wanted to be a Power Ranger.”

Jaydon’s Social Links
Instagram: @jaydonpaddock

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 episode, Winston returns with Part 2 of the Gymnastics Discipline Breakdown — diving into the final five of the disciplines under the World Gymnastics (FIG) governance.

If you’ve ever wondered how trampoline and tumbling fit together, what makes parkour a gymnastics discipline, or how acrobatic gymnastics actually work in competition, this episode breaks it all down in a clear and accessible way. From Olympic disciplines to community showcases, this is your go-to guide to understanding the full gymnastics landscape.

Whether you’re a fan, a parent, or someone brand new to the sport, this episode will leave you with a deeper appreciation for the skill, creativity, and diversity across all eight gymnastics disciplines.

Key Takeaways

Trampoline Gymnastics
An overview of all four events: Individual Trampoline, Synchronised Trampoline, Tumbling, and Double Mini Trampoline. Learn the difference between them, what competitions look like, and what a good score is at elite level.

Acrobatic Gymnastics
Explore the artistry and teamwork behind pairs and group routines and how the 3 routines are built from balance and dynamic elements.

Rhythmic Gymnastics
This section outlines the four apparatus at the elite level, group vs individual formats, and the blend of dance, difficulty, and execution that defines the sport.

Aerobic Gymnastics
A high-energy, explosive discipline based on complex choreography, powerful movement, and extreme endurance. We cover what the floor is like and how routines are judged.

Parkour
The most recent addition to World Gymnastics. We unpack the Speed and Freestyle formats, how events are structured, and what makes this controversial inclusion one of the most debated in the sport.

Best Moments

“Scoring for trampolining includes time of flight and horizontal displacement — things that don’t exist in artistic gymnastics.”

“Scoring is mostly difficulty, execution, and landing penalties — but the way elements are valued is really interesting.”

“Acro has five event types and three routine types — and yeah, if you want the full breakdown, Polly Maggs did a better job than me.”

“Parkour being part of gymnastics? I had no idea until I started researching. I thought it was its own thing.”

My Social Links
⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wpowell05/⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@winstonpowell5

The Game of Gymnastics: Understanding The Gamehttps://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.