Tumbler Hector Loiselle hasn't quite made it all the way back from a torn Achilles - but he is getting closer.

An 18 year-old grade 12 student at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School who also dabbled in competitive speedskating, nordic ski, swimming and track and field in years gone by recently qualified for the upcoming Canadian Trampoline and Tumbling Gymnastics Championships in Oshawa (May 21st to May 24th).

To do so, Loiselle would take a small step back, competing in the Level 6 Division at the all-Ontario meet, just a notch below the Senior bracket at which he had been training at the time of the injury last March. "We decided to drop one level just so that I was more comfortable with it," he said.

There was little margin for error as Loiselle carried an all-or-nothing approach into provincials, taking his one and only shot at trying to hit the required qualifying scores for nationals.

"I am proud of just being able to qualify for nationals," he said. "I didn't necesarily think this was possible."

His ability to twist still intact, Loiselle would rebuild the strength in his wrists, gradually increasing the weekly pounding that a high-end tumbler would inflict.

"We did a lot of physio work outside of the gym so that when I returned to the gym, I could just focus on my gymnastics," said Loiselle. "I also have a trampoline at home in my backyard so I did a lot of my basic work on that."

"Then when I come to the gym, I could do my big tricks."

Having safely secured his spot in Oshawa, Loiselle and his coach, Ali Weslake, opted to throw a little more caution to the wind.

"If I want to be competitive at nationals, I know that I need to add a bit more difficulty (to my passes)," said Loiselle. "Also, I just feel that I am ready."

Blessed with an academic excellence that is more than the equal to his athletic virtuosity - Loiselle was recently named as one of 36 recipients of the $100,000 Loran Scholarship - the talented teen had alterior motives for seeking to thrust himself back into the provincial meet setting, regardless of whether a trip to nationals ensued or not.

"One of the big things for me this year was to see if I still enjoyed the competition aspect given that I am heading off to university next year," Loiselle explained. "I definitely am still enjoying both the training and competitions parts - so that was really important."

"My goal next year would be to get back to Senior level, where I was in 2025."

One step back, two steps forward and Hector Loiselle will be all the way back.