DARTMOUTH – A Fall River teenager, who has been training in trampoline for half his lifetime, is getting ready to realize one of his goals later this year. Kai Dwyer will become the first Nova Scotian to compete in a World Championship in trampoline this century.
There are a few thousand gymnasts in the Halifax area – many competing to represent Nova Scotia at national events. Kai Dwyer used to be a gymnast, but took a different direction to book his ticket to international competition.
The 14-year-old Dwyer is a grade 9 student at Lockview High School in Fall River, but he travels almost every day to the Titans Gymnastic Club in Dartmouth to train in his passion – trampoline. He switched from being a gymnast to the trampoline at age 7.
Dwyer trained at the Taiso Gymnastics Club in Lower Sackville, but that all changed one day. “My mother told me there was a trampoline program and I said, oh let’s do that, because I love trampoline,” said Dwyer.
Dwyer’s come a long way in a short time. Next month, he’ll reach the goal of any trampolinist. “The competition that I’m heading to in November, is the World Age Group Championships in Odense, Denmark,” said Dwyer, “and this is a selection of all the best trampolinists in the world to compete for the number one title in my age group.”
He’ll compete in both the trampoline and double-mini trampoline. The last Nova Scotian to take part in the World Championship was back in 1999. “It makes me feel proud,” said Dwyer. “I think it’s going to be a bit nerve-racking to say the least, but I think it’s going to be a very good experience for me.”
Dwyer trains under Dann McEntee, who competed in the World Championships in 1994. He says Dwyer has what it takes. “He doesn’t have a lot of fear which is something that is needed in this sport,” said McEntee, “and is very smart in the air. He knows where he is. He knows what he’s doing and it’s ended up working out quite well.”
Most trampoline Olympic competitors are in their late 20’s, so Dwyer is still quite young. Right now, McEntee says Dwyer is better at trampoline than mini-trampoline, but his height and weight play a factor in that, and Dwyer is at an age where he’ll have growth spurts.
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“He’s a pretty strong guy,”said McEntee of Dwyer. “Commitment is the big thing. He trains 5 days a week at the moment. We do one-on-one, one day for two hours which helps him with his routines.”
Before going to the worlds, Dwyer will train for 3-days with other Team Canada members in Montreal, in two weeks time.
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