Sport
26 November, 2024
Legend is both a student and a teacher
Legend Osborne works at New Nation Gym every day after school and on Saturdays.
When Legend Osborne became at risk of going down the wrong path as he entered his teenage years, his grandfather gave him an ultimatum.
“My grandfather was a kickboxer and karate master in New Zealand, so he wanted me to learn some discipline,” he said.
“In Mount Isa, some teenagers are not always the best, so he wanted me to find a way to become more strong and mature.”
The choices given were to join either the army cadets or take up a martial art – Legend chose Muay Thai – and he hasn’t looked back since.
In the course of three years, the now 16-year-old has developed fitness and confidence and admits he spends almost all his time either at school, where he is in year 11 at Spinifex State College, or at the gym.
After noticing the teenager’s commitment to training, New Nation Gym owner Michael “Newy” New began supporting Legend’s efforts, putting him in with the adult classes to surround him with potential role models, coaching him to prepare for some amateur fights and encouraging the teenager to instruct some of the kids’ classes.
Legend now works at New Nation every day after school and on Saturdays.
Legend even leads some adult fitness classes, where his Spinifex teachers have unexpectedly become his students.
“When I first met Legend, he was crossing that adolescent space where you have drugs and alcohol and parties and the rate of youth crime is some of the highest in the state,” Newy explained.
“It was an easy route that Legend could have taken but instead he has committed himself to training and his Muay Thai, which means he has to have good structure – he’s got to eat well and sleep well and be at the gym at a certain time – which means not going out on the weekend partying.”
Newy is now helping Legend take the first steps in his post-schooling career, enrolling the teenager in an online Certificate III and IV in Fitness.
It means that when Legend completes his secondary schooling next year, he will also graduate as a fully trained fitness instructor able to operate classes on his own.
“I think Legend’s example has encouraged a lot of other kids to come to the gym as well – the kids can see Legend is looking after himself and going somewhere – and he has become a big brother to some of the younger kids who are coming to gym now,” Newy told North West Weekly.
Legend said he believes making the gym a central part of his life has given him the discipline his grandfather had wanted.
“I began training because of my grandfather and back then some of my family’s past was taunting and haunting me,” he said.
“But now I am doing this training to honour my family - and the training has helped me physically and mentally. I think any other kids should be encouraged to do the same.”