Good Luck And Thank You, KAJ!
20th October 2004by Vera Atkinson
One of the best British gymnasts ever, Kanukai Jackson, the 2002 Commonwealth Games All-around Champion, 2002 European Bronze medallist on Vault, and 2000 and 2002 British All-around Champion, has decided to retire from competition.
He is already in Montreal, starting his new career as a member of the cast of the renowned Canadian “Cirque du Soleil”.
In the letter addressed to the British Gymnastics Performance Manager, from Oct. 6, 2004, Kanukai wrote:
“It has been a difficult decision that has taken much time and soul searching to reach, but I have decided the time is right to move on and I have accepted a position with Cirque Du Soleil.
My time at British Gymnastics has been everything rewarding and great fun. At times it was not easy, particularly during my time spent injured. With that said, I think it’s given me a great balance of experiences that will put me in a good stead for the future.
I’d like to thank all at British Gymnastics for their hard work and wish them and you all the best for the future”.
Matthew Greenwood, BG Performance Manager said: "Kanukai became the first gymnast since Neil Thomas to have a truly world wide reputation. He was recognized on the Grand Prix circuit as an extremely talented, affable and above all powerful gymnast. His medal in the European Championships confirmed his World Class status. Becoming Commonwealth Champion in 2002, was the crowning achievement for a gymnast who has significantly raised the profile of men's gymnastics within the media and wider gymnastics community. We all wish him the very best success at the Cirque de Soleil."
Martin Reddin, British Men’s National Coach said: “ Kanukai Jackson was a prodigious talent from a very early age. He was always very powerful and clearly had very fast twitch muscle fibers. He first came to prominence as a vaulter competing a double front vault for the first time at the age of 16.
His performance at the 2002 Commonwealth Games was the gymnastic highlight of the games – Kaj not only won the All-around title and silver medal on Pommels and Vault but he also helped to secure the Team England’s Gold medal Kanukai was a regular competitor on the Grand Prix circuit and in 2002/2003 he qualified for five finals in consecutive Grand Prix events on either vault, pommels or rings a feat never equalled by any other male gymnast.
Injuries unfortunately curtailed Kaj's ability to train. After two more operations on his shoulders Kaj has decided to take up the opportunity to start a new career with the Cirque de Solei. This is the third time they have asked him to join and at the age of 26 he must think about his future. We wish him good luck in his new venture and salute his massive contribution to British Gymnastics over the past ten years!”.
Interview with Kanukai Jackson:
- Your best and your worst moments in Gymnastics?.
- The best memory relate to all those friends I have made and all the nice people I have met in Gymnastics. Winning the 2002 Commonwealth Games title was also very special thing for me.
My worst memories relate to the injuries I have suffered during my gymnastics career. The worst of them was my knee injury in 1998.
- Who has contributed most for your career and successes in Gymnastics?
- They are a number of people without whom I could not have got as far as I did:
Mrs. Carol Ford first spotted my potential, at Harrow G.C. If it wasn’t for her ,I would have not been in gymnastics. Carol’s son Simon has also coached me at a later stage (in 2003). Lloyd Readhead helped me a lot as the National Junior squad coach, at the time when I was growing up. Then Eddie Van Hoof, Nikolay Liskovich and finally, Martin Reddin. I am grateful to all of them…
- What would your message to the young people, who will possibly follow you?
- I would like to tell them that what they see on TV is possible to achieve! It is incredible how much you can achieve, if you do the basics properly. Gymnastics and the road to mastery is a wonderful, very special thing.
- What could you tell us about your first act in the Cirque due Soleil?
- First I’ll have to stay for a few months at the Cirque’s special school in Montreal for training. My act will be part of a new, 2005 production and it is based around a cube-high bar. This is as much as I know for the moment…
- Good Luck and THANK you Kaj!