BASILDON’S Olympic star, MAX Whitlock MBE, has opened a brand-new gym for the future stars of Team GB at a Southend school.

The double Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European champion was at Thorpe Hall School in Wakering Road, to open the Max Whitlock Gymnastics Club for children aged between three and 11.

Andrew Hampton, headteacher at Thorpe Hall School, believes that these new gyms are a sign that Max, who trains at Basildon Sporting Village, is looking to create a new group of gymnasts to follow in his footsteps and compete for Team GB in years to come.

Following the opening of the new gym, Mr Hampton, said about Max: “He is an amazing guy.

“I would say that Max is keen for children to become more active and involve themselves in Olympic activities of which there are many in gymnastics.

“Max brought three young Olympic athletes to show the children when they could do.

“I think he is keen to breed a new generation of Olympic athletes.”

About 100 children were in celebratory mood when the Olympic star arrived to unveil his newest gym.

The classes are encouraging children to take up the sport early, like Max, who started when he was just seven-years-old.

The children who join the group will be able to take advantage of state-of-the-art equipment with constant supervision from their coaches.

The clubs are currently available for primary school aged children every weekend from Saturday, January 27, until Sunday, March 25.

The new gym is one of two that will be opening in Essex this winter, with another opening in Colchester next month in February.

Mr Hampton was very proud that Max had chosen the school to base his first gym in south Essex.

He said: “We are absolutely delighted and very proud he has chosen Thorpe Hall School to be the base for his new gym.

“We are breaking ground on a new £2million facility, so it is a great thing to have a world-famous athlete such as him choose to work with our school, it is a great honour.”

The new gym will aim to take the children through the stages of learning to become a gymnast with a programme, created by Max himself, as well as his wife, Leah.

The programme will give children the chance to work towards “earning badges, certificates and medals for their efforts, commitment and achievements”.

Each child is given their own log of their progress through the sessions and parents will be given feedback at the end of every term on how their child is performing doing.

Speaking about the new gyms that are opening in Southend and Colchester, Max said: “I feel extremely passionate about helping others and want to provide the opportunities and experiences that will help youngsters within their lives.

“I believe that gymnastics is one of the best foundation sports for a child to help them with any aspects of their lives.”

The Max Whitlock Gymnastics club is now taking bookings for children to start sessions at Thorpe Hall School at the end of this month.

For more information on how your child can join the gym, go to: www.maxwhitlockgymnastics.co.uk