Self-taught 11-year-old gymnast gets competitive

LOUISA- Some gymnasts spend hours every week honing their skills in a gym with a trainer. Eleven-year-old, Jake Preece practices in his front yard.

Preece got into gymnastics after watching his cousin and sister jump on the trampoline when he was younger. Though he meets with a gymnastics coach from time to time, Jake is primarily self-taught with the help of YouTube videos.

“I experiment, and then work really hard on ones I like.” Preece said.

Preece has competed in three events so far in Somerset, Cincinnati, and Morehead. Each competition featured 3 events: trampoline, double mini trampoline, and floor.

He has finished 1st four times, 3rd twice, 4th once, and 5th twice.

“I’ve done well at the difficult stuff that is hard to teach,” Preece said. “But I am still learning the little things that cost you in scoring.”

Preece said he plans to work hard to make progress and advance in his field, while still having fun.

Jake said his favorite stunt to do is a back tuck on the floor, and he is working on broadening his practice.

“My favorite [stunt] that I’m getting close to getting is a full on the ground,” Preece said.

​Jake had planned to compete in the state championship in April, but it will not be available to due to a Safety Patrol field trip to Washington D.C. His ultimate goal is to compete in the Junior Olympics in Iowa at the end of July.

“He is training differently for 2 the next months, focusing on explosiveness,” Blake Preece, Jake’s father said. “We will be getting back with his coach in June to see where he's at.”