This year, Zak Perzamanos qualified Great Britain a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and World Games in 2025, when he competed at the World Trampoline Gymnastics Championships in Birmingham alongside his new competition synchronised partner Corey Walkes. At the Championships in Birmingham, Zak came away with Bronze alongside his Great Britain teammates in the Trampoline Team and All-Around Team competitions. In September, Zak competed at the British Championships, where he came away with his first senior title in the senior men’s trampoline competition, and at the World Championships in 2022, Zak became World champion in the All-Around Team competition in Rimini. Zak made his senior debut in 2021 at the World Championships, and he is targeting two World Cups and the European Championships next year, and continues to train at the Liverpool Trampoline Gymnastics Academy. We spoke to Zak about competing at the World Championships in Birmingham, becoming the British champion in the senior men’s trampoline competition in September and what a typical training day is like for him.
How was your time competing at this year’s World Trampoline Gymnastics Championships and what was it like competing in front of a home crowd?
I had a great time competing at the World Championships this year, I can easily say it was by far my most enjoyable comp, and that was definitely down to how good the home crowd was. It was an amazing atmosphere.
You finished 5th in the individual final and 4th in synchronised with Corey Walkes, qualifying Great Britain a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the World Games in 2025, how did you stay focused during your finals and what were they like to be part of?
I think just mainly being in the moment and not getting ahead of myself, understanding that I still had work to do and knowing the job wasn’t done just yet. The finals were unreal to be a part of and making it that far and being able to take the moment in was great.
How was it winning Bronze in the Trampoline Team and All-Around Team competitions alongside your British teammates?
I think being able to do the All-Around is always really good because, although we are a big team, it’s very rare we all get to compete together so it’s just great to be on the floor with the rest of the team, spur each other on and enjoy it together.
In September, you became the British champion in the senior men’s trampoline competition, how did this feel?
This felt amazing being able to get my first senior title, managing to compete the highest difficulty I ever have, and also pick up first place was great and definitely something I’m proud of.
What has it been like competing at World Cups throughout the year, which saw you win Bronze in West Palm Beach?
I’ve really enjoyed the whole process this year with the World Cups. It’s been a lot more than what I’m used to competition-wise, but I tried to just take it all in my stride and this really helped with my mindset going into competition determined and motivated to do well, and I’m glad that the hard work paid off.
How did you find the experience becoming World champion at the 2022 World Championships in Rimini in the All-Around Team competition?
Unreal. It really was a great experience and feeling competing with your friends and team and I was just very proud of everyone.
What did you enjoy most about competing at the European Championships last year and how was it winning Bronze alongside Tyler Cole-Dyer, Rhys Northover and Andrew Stamp?
I definitely enjoyed gaining experience from that competition as I was still fairly new to being a senior at that point so it was great to just compete against the best and learn what it’s like to compete at the highest level. It was amazing to be a part of such a great men’s team and I’m glad all our hard work paid off.
Can you tell us about some of the other competitions you’ve been part of over your career so far, and do you have a favourite aspect of being a trampoline gymnast for Great Britain?
I’d say a few highlighted comps for me over my career would be Switzerland Nissan Cup when I was younger, just because I think it is the best place I have been to and just being able to compete there was unreal. Also, another highlighted competition was World Championships 2021 as it was my senior debut and I managed to finish 9th, which was a complete shock at the time.
I think my favourite aspect of being a gymnast is definitely being able to test myself every day, constantly trying to improve and be better than I was the week before.
How did you get into trampolining and was it something you always wanted to do?
I’d say it’s all my sister’s fault, haha. When I was younger, she wanted to go to a trampoline place but didn’t want to go on her own so, as the younger brother, I had to go with her and yeah, I ended up enjoying it and found a club nearby called Springers in Crosby and that’s where I started training.
What is it like competing in synchronised competitions with Corey and how long have you been competing together?
It’s great. I’d say we get on really well, so being able to do synchro where you go out and compete with your mate is a good thing and definitely an experience I’m proud of. World Championships was actually our first time competing together in synchro so it was definitely a great result.
Did you have any favourite gymnasts to watch when growing up, and have you been given any advice over your time in the sport so far that has stuck with you?
I didn’t watch too much trampolining when I was younger but I would definitely say Dong Dong always stood out to me when I’d see him because you could tell how good he was.
A piece of advice that has stuck with me is that I’m not going to be able to compete forever so to enjoy it whilst it lasts and take every experience in as it comes.
What does a typical training day look like for you and how is it training at Liverpool Trampoline Gymnastics Academy?
Usually I will do one training session starting at 12pm till 2pm and then snc 2pm till 3:30pm or two jumping sessions depending on what day it is. For me, training at Liverpool is the best. I have such great support there from all the coaches down to all the staff, it is really great, and also, training in one big group with all my mates is a good laugh and keeps it enjoyable, but also people who keep pushing me to be better.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I like to go out with my mates a lot on bikes or just to get out the house to do something, also spending time with my boss family when I’m not in the gym, plus taking the dog out. I also spend a lot of time napping and binging series so I’ve got it good at the moment, haha.
Do you have any competitions coming up that you can tell us about or that you are targeting?
I’m targeting two World Cups next year, as well as European Championships, so my plan is to go out and perform at them and hopefully walk away with some good results.
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