I started gymnastics at the age of 6 after having a taster day in P.E. at Junior School. At my first club I only trained for 1 hour on a Tuesday evening and they had very little equipment. It was there I won my first medal for choreographing and showing a floor routine. I left that club after a couple of months and went to another club on a Saturday afternoon where they had  apparatus that had to be set up and put away after each session. Tony, my coach at the time soon realised I had talent and recommended I attended the club that I am still at today, South Essex Gymnastics Club in Basildon, Essex.

At school I managed to juggle training with studying but left after taking GCSE’s at 16 and chose to train full time.

I live in Enfield, which is on the outskirts of London, with my mum Gill, dad Errol, older brother Ryan and Precious the dog. My journey to and from the gym is a 72 mile round trip which I do 6 days a week. I spend a lot of time at Lilleshall National Sports Centre in Staffordshire with my National coach and other international gymnasts so when I am at home I like to relax and catch up with my mates.

I passed my driving test, first time, in September 2009 so after years of relying on my Mum and Dad to get me to the gym and back I’m able to get there by myself. I got my first car, which was a black Vauxhall Corsa, when I turned 17 but I now have a VW Golf and one of my favourite pastimes is driving. The other things I like doing is going to the cinema, buying gadgets and designer clothes, eating out at Nandos and TGI’s and also playing PS3.

Through winning the UK School Games in 2006 I was appointed as a Champion Ambassador for the sport and it has given me the opportunity to meet some great people like Dame Kelly Holmes, Darren Campbell, Colin Jackson and even Gordon Brown.

One of the coaches at my gym is a Stunt Co-ordinator and one of his colleagues needed a mixed race boy to stunt double for an episode of The Whistleblowers which was an ITV series.  The storyline consisted of a young boy being bullied at school and committing suicide by jumping off a bridge onto a road. I did the stunt of the boy jumping off the bridge. It took me six jumps off the bridge onto an inflatable to get the perfect shot, it was amazing.

I have had the privilege of working with the photographer, Elisabeth Hoff, for the 2009 Scottish Widows calendar appearing along side The Widow in the calendar. This calendar was a limited edition of only 500.

I had the honour of presenting an award at The Royal Albert Hall with Christine Ohuruogu, the Olympic medallist, for The Visit London Awards in 2008. This event was hosted by Johnny Vaughan and Lisa Snowden and I had an incredible night.

Last year one of my sponsors, Lloyds Banking Group, arranged for me to have my photo taken with the London 1948 Olympic torch.

To find out more Follow My Dream.

Facts

Name: Reiss Lyle Beckford

D.o.B: 17th February 1992

Home Town: Enfield, Middlesex, UK

Profession: Full Time Gymnast

Club: South Essex Gymnastics Club

Personal Coach: Scott Hann

Home Nation Representation: England

International Representation: Great Britain

GB Coach: Sergei Sizhanov

Favourite Apparatus: Floor, Vault, Rings and High Bar

Least Favourite: Pommels and Parallel Bars

Favourite Gymnast: Kohei Uchimura, Japan

Favourite Food: Barbecue Ribs and Chicken

Favourite Restaurant: TGI Fridays

Favourite Film: Avatar 3D

Favourite Music: RnB, Funky House and Rap

Favourite Country: Australia

Ambition: To Represent Great Britain at an Olympics

Training Times:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 12.00 – 7.00
Saturday 1.30 – 5.30
Sunday Day Off