A New South Wales family is taking on the world, trying for gold at an international competitive skipping event in the United States.
Key points:
Tom Norman and his family are competing at the World Jump Rope Championships in US this weekA 99-strong contingent of Australian skippers have travelled to the event, already picking up two medalsIt’s hoped jump rope will one day be an Olympic sport
Members of the Norman family are taking part in the World Jump Rope Championships this week, alongside 3,000 of the best athletes, coaches and officials in the sport from more than 30 countries.
Murray Norman and his children, Tom, Rebecca and Belinda, are all competing in the bi-annual event, held this year in Colorado Springs, as part of a 99-strong Australian contingent.
Australia has already picked up two medals at the event, including one gold.
The Normans got their start in the niche sport when Tom Norman joined his jump rope team in primary school.
“We toured on road trips and performed at the NBL and the NRL and lots of schools,” Tom Norman said.
“Then it progressed to going to competitions and now I’ve been competing for 13 years and I’ve been to five world championships.”
He was soon joined by his sisters, and eventually his dad Murray caught the skipping bug as well.
“It’s just phenomenal, it’s good to spend time with them, it’s good to have a laugh,” Murray Norman said.
He picked up the rope for the first time to salvage an event, after a competitor failed to show.
But he was inspired to take up skipping in earnest by his children’s commitment to the sport.
“It’s been really good … them actually teaching me stuff that I can’t do and … persevering with me as I keep up with them,” Murray Norman said.
Mental strength a must
Athletes at the world championships compete in events such as speed, freestyle, Double Dutch and team events.
Within the first two days of competition, Tom Norman took out bronze in the team speed relay 4×30 event and gold in the mixed 19+ paired Double Dutch event.
The jump roper juggles his training with his Agricultural Sciences degree at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga.
He said the mental strength required to compete was just as important as physical fitness and coordination.
“The timing in your head [is important], especially in an event like triples where we’re doing three revolutions under your body,” he said.
“It’s all about clearing your head, focusing, trying to stay comfortable because your body will perform the best when you’re relaxed — it’s absolutely just as mental as physical.”
Olympic hopes
While the sport is usually associated with the playground, jump rope is growing in popularity and currently has observer status — the first step to being included in the Olympic Games.
Tom Norman hopes competitive skipping will grace the Olympic stage sooner, rather than later.
“Hopefully in the next ten years, it’s really exciting for the sport,” he said.
“This competition [in the US] is so big compared to the other ones … you get to see more skippers, more people in the crowd, it’s amazing to be here, such a privilege.”
