Welcome To The Athlete Team Heath

HOW IT STARTED…

Born and raised in Victoria, Heath started gymnastics at the age of 7-years-old at Geelong Gymnastics Centre. Coming from a very sporty family, Heath’s Aunty who is an ex-gymnast, was the first to spot his talent, begging his mother to put him into the sport. Quickly falling in love with the sport, this became Heath’s life from there on. At the age of 16, Heath relocated to Brisbane, leaving his family behind to pursue his dreams, and train at the Gymnastics Queensland High Performance Centre. In the same year, Heath won silver in the All-Around at the Australian Gymnastics Championships and retained his title 2017.

HOW IT’S GOING…

In 2018, Health took on the world at the Junior International Team Cup in the USA, winning bronze in Vault, as well as a fourth place in the apparatus at the Pacific Rim Championships, which then earnt himself a selection into the World Championships team. In 2019, he won medals at the national championships in Floor and Vault and competed at the Melbourne World Cup and World University Games. In 2020, Heath fell short of achieving his Olympic Dream at the Tokyo Games. Despite this, Heath went on to compete at the 2021 Australian Gymnastics Championships, finishing third all around, as well as achieving a first place in the team event and a second place on horizontal bar.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Some of Heath’s most notable achievements to date include being a 2x Oceania Champion, 4x Australian Individual Champion, a World Championships representative, a World Challenge Cup finalist, and a Summer Universiade finalist. Heath’s next goals are set on competing at the DTB Pokal Challenge in Stuttgart, Germany in March 2023, and ultimately at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

WHAT IS THE WHY BEHIND WHAT YOU DO?

“To inspire authenticity and to create art” – Heath Thorpe

With a passion for change and art, Heath started doing something hardly ever seen by male gymnasts: leaps. Although the idea surrounding the elements of grace and flexibility are for women… they are not seen appropriate for men. Changing the narrative one leap at a time, Heath has been fighting the gender expectations that have existed in the sport for decades by showcasing his artistic side, despite being unrecognised for it in the Code of Points for the men.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE QUOTE?

Everything happens for a reason.

“It aligns with my life and sporting approach. There is always something to be learnt” – Heath Thorpe

TELL US SOMETHING NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT YOU:

“I had to have plastic surgery on my pinkie finger when I was 4 after it got wedged in a door and almost fell off” – Heath Thorpe

 WHAT'S ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU COULD TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF:

“Be yourself” – Heath Thorpe

WHAT DOES 'CHASE THE VIBE' MEAN TO YOU?

“To trust the journey and ride out the wave” – Heath Thorpe