Mr Gymnastics honoured at Jersey's first IGA competition since his passing

Jersey's gymnasts are participating in their first competition without Arthur Falle since 1981.

The local legend, fondly known as 'Mr Gymnastics', passed away in January 2025 after dedicating 44 years of his life to coaching generations of athletes in the island.

Many of his gymnasts went on to compete in the Island Games and county, regional and national levels.

READ: Tributes pour in for Jersey's 'Mr Gymnastics' Arthur Falle

Julia Falle, his daughter and the Head Coach of Regent Gym Club, says the last competition her father attended was in March 2024, and he was handing out the medals.

"The whole day will be very emotional. He's not there to greet people and talk to people... and encourage the gymnasts, which is all he's [ever] done.

"I want all of our gymnasts and coaches, who've worked really hard, to go out there and enjoy the competition. 

"Mr Falle will definitely be watching over you."

Arthur Falle, 'Mr Gymnastics', who passed away on 7 January 2025.

150 competitors from across the UK and their families are travelling to Jersey for the IGA Arthur Falle Invitational Gymnastics Competition.

The two-day event is taking place on 3 and 4 May.

It is the first time gymnasts will be competing on Paris 2024 equipment, which was given to the Regent Gym Club in January 2025.

WATCH: Paris 2024 Olympic equipment gifted to Jersey

Julia Falle says the gymnasts are going to be so excited knowing Olympians have used the equipment.

"Our gymnasts alone have come so far in the months {since the apparatus was installed}, (they are) so much more confident.

"When we're working on the beams, for instance, they're doing their routines and there's not 'lots of matting' underneath because we know the [new] matting under the beams is very good, the landing area is very secure, there's no gaps.

"Everything's much safer."

It is also the last time a gymnastics competition will be held at Fort Regent, with plans to close it for renovations in early 2026.

READ: Fort Regent regeneration work to start in January 2026

Julia Falle believes the new facilities at Oakfield will not be large enough to hold events like this.

"It's a real shame and really sad, but unfortunately, we haven't got any more time now to host big competitions, to invite clubs over from the UK.

"Fort Regent's Queen's Hall is an amazing place to come to, I think a lot of people are going to miss that coming to the island.

"So many people are coming over for this event, (we're) probably looking at the region of 200 people coming over this weekend.

Fort Regent

The Head Coach wants to see sports return to the Fort after regeneration work.

"You have the space to do these sorts of events and support this number of people.

"Oakfield is not going to have the size or viewing capacity, so I think we're going to be very, very limited in what we can do because gymnastics is a very competitive sport and we want to continue that for the future of the gymnasts."

Infrastructure Minister, Constable Andy Jehan, outside Oakfield Sports Centre