Why I Left Birmingham After 13 Years

ABOUT THE EPISODE: Host Winston Powell shares one of the biggest changes of his gymnastics life so far: after 13 years at City of Birmingham Gymnastics Club, he has moved to Notts Gymnastics Academy. Winston walks through what triggered the decision, how he weighed Notts against Leeds, the emotional and practical realities of leaving the club he grew up in, and why a new routine, a new gym, and a new city might be exactly the reset he needed. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Winston's coach Luke Folwell has been offered a national coach role for British Gymnastics, meaning he can no longer act as a personal coach, and prompting the move. Nearly all of the Birmingham lads are expected to move on too, with Winston expecting most to join him at Notts. The two realistic options were Notts and Leeds. Winston travelled up to Leeds to train and was genuinely impressed, but the familiarity of Notts and prior relationships with the coaches tipped the balance. Notts offers a much more consistent daily routine, with regular training times, allowing energy, sleep, and recovery to sit in a more predictable rhythm. Winston is using the shift as a chance to build structure into the rest of his life, including a self-study AAT accounting course and potential coaching work at Notts. The Spaceship You principle applies to elite sport too: dedicating specific spaces to specific tasks, work, sleep, recreation, makes each of them significantly easier. Under all the logistics, there is a bigger question: do you back yourself enough to make a move like this worth it? Winston's honest answer is I don't know yet, and that's OK. Winston's mantra for this next phase: put yourself in the best possible position to succeed, because nothing is guaranteed. Train like you've never won and compete like you've never lost. BEST MOMENTS: "That is how long I've trained at the City of Birmingham Gymnastics Club. That is how long I've lived in Birmingham." "Sometimes I need a little push, and this happening is that push." "You've got to train like you've never won, and you've got to compete like you've never lost." "Just because you're not there at the moment doesn't mean you can't get there." "Luck is labour under correct knowledge." "All you can do is give yourself the best possible chance of success." LINKS: Website: https://winstonpowell.co.uk/ Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wpowell05/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@winstonpowell5 E-book: https://payhip.com/b/f6RjV ABOUT THE HOST: As a member of the Senior Great Britain Squad, Winston Powell brings firsthand experience to every episode. His achievements include being the Under 18 English Champion in 2023 and reaching the finals in three events at the Junior World Championships the same year: the All-Around, Parallel Bars, and Horizontal Bar finals, qualifying 7th for the All-Around. With five international appearances as a GB gymnast, he has gained invaluable insights into the sport's highest levels. His passion for gymnastics, combined with his deep understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by elite athletes, makes him the perfect guide to exploring the strategies and stories behind gymnastics success.