Interview with Irish Gymnast Matthew Cosgrave (14th June, 2006)

Backflip: How are you recovering from the injury you picked up at the Commonwealth Games?
Matthew: Everything is going pretty smoothly. I've been taking a couple of months to rest my ankle and also a shoulder injury which I picked up in training. I feel pretty good at the moment and am looking forward to getting back into training to prepare for the World Championships in Aarhus.

Backflip: Talk us through your training schedule - are you studying as well?
Matthew: I finished school last June and took a year out of my studies to train full time. This meant I was training around 30 hours a week on all 6 pieces. I would train about 2 or 2 1/2 hours in the morning, mainly conditioning and some small apparatus work. I would then have lunch and a rest and return to the gym for a 3 hour session in the evening. I still have some decisions to make as to whether I will continue this next year or begin to study in university.

Backflip: Who do you most admire in the gymnastics world?
Matthew: Alexi Nemov has always been a great idol for me in gymnastics.

Backflip: What skills are you working on?
Matthew: I have had a very difficult time working new skills recently due to my injuries. However I am looking forward to getting back in the gym and concentrating on increasing my start values over the next few months.

Backflip: What lies ahead of you in the coming months prior to Worlds in October?
Matthew: When I return to full training I will spend until mid September securing the new elements and combos I need in my routines. From then on, I will reduce the amount of work on new skills and begin to work much harder in securing the elements together in my routines.

Backflip: What has been you greatest achievement so far in gymnastics?
Matthew: This last year I achieved a lot competing in the Worlds and also the Commonwealths for the first time. However my performances were hampered by injuries and I feel I could have achieved much more.

Backflip: What has been your best experience/memory so far?
Matthew: A great memory was when I won silver on vault in the Northern European Championships last year. This was particularly special as I was able to do it in front of a home crowd.

Backflip: What do you think of the new Code?
Matthew: I am now coming to terms with the new code and find it quite enjoyable. I feel it suits my style as I give little away on the "B score". However it is also difficult to retain a hard "A score" which I will need to concentrate on improving.

Backflip: What would you like to do after gymnastics?
Matthew: I will most likely be going to university soon to study medicine. Therefore my career path is set on becoming a doctor. What kind I’m not quite sure yet but I hope it will have some work connection with sport

Backflip speaks to Ciaran Gallagher, Matthew’s coach and the National Development Officer for Irish Gymnastics.

Backflip: From a coaches point of view describe Matthew as a gymnast.
Ciaran: Matthew was always extremely dedicated to gymnastics and from an early age it was clear that he could go all the way to compete at the top events in the world - which he has done. He has given over a year to 'full-time' gymnastics and has took the time to train all over the UK to develop his ability - particularly through regular visits to Huntingdon Olympic Gym Club where he has benefited from all the knowledge and expertise of top British coaches Paul Hall and Ben Howels.

He is a smart guy and at this stage in his career, being 19 coming 20 in August, he knows what he has to do in both training and competition and is really self motivated - from a coaches point of view myself and the other coaches that work with Matthew at Salto (Aidan O'Reilly, Gilly Carson,) just try and make sure that he is happy - if a gymnast is happy they will train and compete well (not always easy to do in a sport like gymnastics!).

He hopes to continue in 'full-time' training to the 2007 Europeans and hasn't ruled out the 2010 Commonwealth Games. It is unfortunate that he has been so unlucky with injury this year (Commonwealths being the big one) as I feel he was in line for some excellent results. He is a great role model for all gymnasts in Ireland - North & South.

Backflip: Tell us more about Irish Gymnastics and its development and promising juniors coming up through ranks.
Ciaran: Regarding up-coming stars Irish Gymnastics has a real wealth of talent developing - on the WAG side we have the likes of Rebecca Wallace, Emma Gorman and Shannon Garret coming through - all aged between 11-13 years just starting to hit the international scene. Similarly we have some excellent tumblers - Rachel Kiernan just placed 19th at the recent European Junior Championships even with a big error on her second pass - so watch out for her.

And on the MAG side - Matthew's training partner - 16 year old Luke Carson just hit the international scene competing the Junior Euros this year - finishing 21st on Vault and we also have super talent - 11 year old Jamie Bell to look to for future success.