Max Whitlock Gymnastics aims to get one million children involved in sport by 2020

Double Olympic champion Max Whitlock was joined by students from across north London at the Seymour Leisure Centre to launch a new gymnastics initiative.

Students from Essendine Primary School, Ark Atwood Primary School and St Joseph’s Primary School were present for the launch of ‘Max Whitlock Gymnastics’.

The initiative will be rolled out at leisure centres across the country managed by Everyone Active, including the Seymour Leisure Centre in Marylebone.

Through the partnership, Everyone Active and Whitlock have pledged to get one million children engaged in gymnastics by 2022.

This will be achieve through the delivery of Max Whitlock Gymnastics in more than 30 Everyone Active centres across the country.

Each structured session will give children the chance to develop and perfect their skills as they progress.

They will also have the opportunity to have a go on a number of apparatus and take part in fun and exciting activities set by Whitlock and his wife Leah, who has also played an instrumental in the developing the scheme.

Whitlock was welcomed to Seymour Leisure Centre by Councillor David Harvey, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Education and Community at Westminster City Council.

The 25-year-old led sessions and spoke to guests about the importance of providing high-quality access to gymnastics, as well as the benefits of introducing children to the sport at a younger age.

“I am delighted to have teamed up with Everyone Active to ensure that more young people are given the opportunity to enjoy gymnastics,” said Whitlock.

“Training at an Everyone Active centre myself I know first had that their brilliant facilities, UK wide, offer scope to get children all over the country benefitting from the gymnastics programme.

Cllr Harvey commented: “I want more children across our borough to get active and stay healthy.

Visit everyoneactive.com for more information about the Max Whitlock Gymnastics initiative and to find your local centre.