From Injury to Triumph: 13-year-old Eli Maroun Leaps onto the World Tumbling Stage

The Hawkesbury is full of modest champions, and it’s always a delight to unearth them.

It was quite by accident the Hawkesbury Post heard of 13-year-old Eli Maroun from Marayla, when his proud mum Kylie dropped in passing conversation to her women’s six-aside soccer team why she would miss a couple of matches.

It turns the year 7 Santa Sophia Catholic College student is set to compete in the world tumbling championships in Birmingham, UK, later in November. Just a few months ago, a broken leg threatened to derail his dreams. He missed the National Championships in May, but now, he’s back on his feet – or rather, springing off them.

“Tumbling is a form of gymnastics that involves lots of flipping,” Eli told the Post. He began his tumbling journey early, starting kinder gym at just two years old and joining a tumbling squad at the tender age of four. “I have been tumbling for nine years,” he revealed.

The prospect of representing Australia at the World Age Group Competition at the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) World Trampoline Gymnastics Championships evokes many emotions in the young athlete. “I’m feeling very overwhelmed and nervous but excited,” he admitted. 

He recounted the moment he discovered he had been selected to represent his country saying, “We were away on holidays and I asked my mum to check her email and I couldn’t believe it!”

For Eli, the World Championships represent the pinnacle of success in his sport.”World championships are the highest achievement. I hope one day it will be an Olympic sport,” he said. He trains rigorously for his sport, putting in 3.5 hours each on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturdays. Despite his demanding training schedule, Eli strives to maintain a balance between his schoolwork and his sport.

Eli owes a great deal of his success to his supportive network. “My parents take me to all my training and competitions, my family and friends have all put money in to help send me to the UK,” he shared. His network also raised money for Eli to attend the World Championships through a GoFundMe campaign, and come Thursday 9 November, he’s on his way to Birmingham, with his Mum Kylie.

The Competition starts in earnest on 18 November.

When asked about his role models, Eli named his coach, Jack Hemmings. And his advice to other young athletes aspiring to represent their country in sport is simple, “No matter what gets in your way don’t give up.”

For those who wish to follow in his tumbling footsteps, Eli recommends his training centre, “Tumbling is a really fun sport, I train at Kachan School of Tumbling and Performance located in Windsor.”

Good Luck Eli – We will all be cheering you on back home!