Eleven year old gymnast, Stephen Tonge from Bonnybridge, is one of the youngest and newest athletes in the Central Scotland Institute of Sport but is already making his mark.

Stephen, who is coached by Andrew Webb at the Falkirk Club, has been selected to compete for Scotland in next month’s Celtic Cup Under 13 event in Perth following good scores in November’s British Open.
 
Last summer Stephen Tonge was named amongst 26 British gymnasts for the British Performance squad.  The squad was assembled with the 2016 Olympic Games as the ultimate target. 
 
Then in January Stephen joined the Central Scotland Institute of Sport, which provides high performance expertise to Scotland’s potential world class talent - its expert teams work together to deliver essential support services locally in sports medicine, sports science, strength and conditioning, and career and lifestyle guidance.
 
It’s huge commitment for Stephen but he has shown enormous dedication to the sport.
 
“I began gymnastics when I was in nursery as a four year old, I enjoyed it from the start and have been doing it ever since,” said Stephen.  “I train six days a week, for between three and seven hours a day.”
 
Stephen finished sixteenth over in last year’s Celtic Cup and his scores contributed to second place for the Scottish team.
 
“Stephen has chosen a very demanding sport for himself,” said his coach, Andrew Webb.  “But he clearly enjoys it and he, and the others from the area in the Falkirk and Alloa squads, is doing really well. 
 
“He has particular aptitude for pommel horse so he is partially following in the footprints of other Scottish gymnasts that have been doing really well in pommels.”