Double Olympic champion launches scheme to get 'one million children' into gymnastics

Double Olympic gold medallist, Max Whitlock, has launched a new Gymnastics programme pledging to get one million more young people doing gymnastics by 2020.

Max Whitlock Gymnastics will consist of structured sessions aiming to give children the chance to develop and perfect their skills as they progress.

The young participants will have the opportunity to their hand on a number of apparatus and take part in activities devised by Whitlock and his elite coach wife Leah.

The initiative will be rolled out across 32 leisure centres operated by Everyone Active, the programme's delivery partner.

The partnership follows on from Whitlock’s ongoing relationship with the sports and leisure operator through the Everyone Active Sporting Champions Scheme, which he has been part of for the past three years.

"I truly believe that gymnastics is one of the best sporting foundations for children," Whitlock said.

"It helps them to develop skills that can be used in all aspects of their lives. It’s a sport that has opened many doors for me and I hope it can do the same for others."

Everyone Active's regional director, Duncan Jefford, added: "The partnership forms part of our major drive towards increasing sports participation, as it continues to decline across the UK.

"We firmly believe in the benefits of taking part in sport at a young age and will continue to diversify our offering to provide opportunities to get involved in activities that are disappearing from the school curriculum.

"In addition, it is vital that we bridge the gap between participation levels of men and women in sport and tackle the declining rate of participation in girls as they enter their teens. Through the partnership we aim to create a life-long passion for gymnastics from an early age in both girls and boys."