TV winning gymnasts set to entertain once again
The winners of the ITV1 talent show Let's Get Gold, Acropolis, are getting ready to entertain again after reversing their decision to retire from the sport.
Acropolis will entertain guests and nominees at two high profile sporting events, where ten male and female gymnasts, aged 12-21 from the North East, will perform their brand new routine, with incredible feats of strength, agility and bravery as they literally take flight.
As an acrobatic quartet from Deerness Gymnastics Academy in Durham, Acropolis won £100,000 on Let's Get Gold the ‘sports meets entertainment’ show for their club in July 2012.
The quartet have now been joined by six other elite gymnasts, including the 2011 European silver and 2012 World bronze medallists, as they head out onto the corporate event circuit to hopefully secure additional income for Deerness Gymnastics Academy.
On the show Martine McCutcheon urged the gymnasts not to retire saying “I have heard through the grapevine that you are thinking of retiring... honestly don’t, I would pay to see that live.”
The change of heart comes after the gymnasts received fantastic support following their appearance on the show hosted by Vernon Kay this summer. The group, working with coach Stuart Thompson, has now developed a repertoire of routines to wow their audiences.
"We had decided to retire following our success in becoming World Champions - the highest accolade possible in the sport. However we received so much positive feedback from all of the judges, the studio audience, other competitors and the general public after the show that it has really inspired us to carry on," said Jesse Heskett. "We have had so many enquiries asking us to perform at events that we are really starting to enjoy the prospect of new careers."
The Acropolis performances are founded in the discipline of acrobatic gymnastics, in which members of the quartet are currently British, European and World Champions.
"Let's Get Gold has been a great platform for us," said Stuart Thompson, Acropolis coach. "It is a very different prospect to international sporting competition where our gymnasts are experienced in representing Great Britain at the very highest level. But is one that enables us to develop our performances to entertain and literally take the audience's breath away."
“This is a great opportunity for Deerness Gymnastics Academy to build on the success of Acropolis on Lets Get Gold,” said Karl Wharton, director of gymnastics, Deerness Gymnastics Academy. “As a charitable body and volunteer-led club, the prize fund has made a big difference to our future but we now have the prospect of being able to earn additional income for the club to keep the gym going. Our aim is to produce happy, healthy confident children – that is the academy’s motto – and Acropolis are doing the club proud by helping us to maintain this aim hopefully for some time to come.”
Over the past twenty years Deerness Gymnastics Academy have become one of Britain’s top gymnastics clubs, developing over 100 international gymnasts with more than sixty World and European medals, including three World and six European Champions in its roll of honour. It is not only one of the most successful clubs in Great Britain but it is also recognised on the International scene as one of the top clubs in the world.
"We have been involved with gymnastics for over ten years, supported by our families and coaches, regularly training for over 20 hours a week. The response to the ITV show has been incredible and we are really determined to be successful," said Richard Hurst. "The Olympics have reignited our passion for gymnastics and we really want Acropolis to be entertaining and promoting acrobatic gymnastics on the world stage".
For more information on Acropolis check out: acropolis-live.com.
