Japanese Idol Group Members Train Backflips With Olympic Gold Medalist
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Three members of the Japanese idol group Timelesz have drawn attention online after training a challenging gymnastics move known as the backflip with the help of an Olympic gold medalist.
The trio, made up of Hashimoto Masaki, Inomata Shuto, and Shinozuka Daiki, are affectionately nicknamed the "backflip trio" by fans, following their appearance on the TV program 'Timelesz Familia,' which documents the group's various activities and challenges.
According to the program, the three members undertook intensive training in order to master the backflip, a complex acrobatic move that requires strength, timing, and confidence.
To support their efforts, the group received guidance from a gold medalist who won the men's team event in gymnastics at a major international competition.
During one training session, the gold medalist observed one of the members perform the move and offered a notably positive assessment, remarking that the member could execute the backflip well already.
This comment reportedly came as a surprise to viewers, given how difficult it typically is for beginners to perform such an advanced gymnastics skill convincingly.
The moment quickly spread across social media, with fans expressing admiration for the members' dedication and discipline in learning such a physically demanding technique.
Some viewers also commented humorously that they felt a sense of envy toward the idol members, who had the rare chance to train directly under a top-level gymnastics athlete.
The segment has become one of the most widely discussed moments related to Timelesz in recent days, reflecting strong public interest in both the group's growth and their willingness to take on physical challenges outside their usual performance activities.
While details about the specific training methods or full context of the segment remain limited, the story has resonated with fans as an example of the group pushing their abilities in unexpected directions.
Vocabulary7 words
- gymnastics
- a sport with jumps, flips, and balance
- gold medalist
- a person who won first place in a big competition
- execute
- to perform an action correctly
- envy
- a feeling of wanting what someone else has
- athlete
- a person skilled in sports
- acrobatic
- needing great body control and skill
- discipline
- strong self-control to keep practicing
Quiz
Answer key
1. A backflip 2. He said the member could already perform it well 3. True
Discussion questions
- What skills do you think are necessary to learn a backflip safely?
- Why might idol groups choose to showcase members learning physically difficult skills on TV?
- How do you think direct coaching from an elite athlete can accelerate learning a new skill?
- Do you think public reactions like envy or admiration affect how celebrities approach personal challenges? Why?