Toby Madeiros Wins Georgia State Vault Title
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Bermudian Toby Madeiros made a triumphant return to action after two months out through injury to win the vault at the recent USA Gymnastics Georgia Men’s State Championship.
Madeiros, 15, competed in all six events at Level 7 and also finished runner-up in the high bar in the competition at the Gymnastix Training Centre at Mountain View High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
He placed fourth in the floor and all around, sixth in the still rings, and eighth in the pommel horse and parallel bars, with his performances qualifying him for the Region 8 Championship in Duluth, Georgia, next Friday [April 5].
His displays were even more impressive considering he underwent hand surgery in March last year before suffering a stress fracture of the back six months later and only returned to full training in February.
“In my eyes, the back injury was just another obstacle, as well as my broken hand at the beginning of last year,” Madeiros told Bernews.
“They were another reason for me to work harder to achieve my goals, which I’m going to do, especially with my family, coaches, friends and team-mates there by my side helping me every step of the way.”
Maderios, who attends the May River High School in Bluffton, South Carolina, was just 18 months old when he started gymnastics at the Bermuda Gymnastics Association’s National Training Centre in St David’s in the Parent and Tot programme.
He is part of the Islands YMCA Boy’s Gymnastics Team in Savannah, Georgia, and coached by Adrian Sims and Tina Buffkin.
Maderios hails from a sporting family, with his older brother Jacob playing for the Bermuda Under-20 national football team and younger brother Isaac competing in gymnastics.
Their father, Alex Madeiros, is a former Port Royal director of golf.
