MADISON – Talan Robey divides his sports time between gymnastics and flag football.

Last May, Madison Gymnastics Center invited Talan to join the boys’ advanced gymnastics class. During twice weekly, 90-minute practices, he has been learning skills on high bar, pommel horse, rings and floor.

“Bars are his favorite apparatus. Currently, he’s currently learning how to do a backflip on the bar, otherwise known an as a back hip circle,” his mother Krista Robey said.

“Gymnastics is my favorite sport. I’ve been taking classes for over a year. It’s making me stronger,” Talan said. “I like learning more skills at each practice.”

Talan also appreciates that he’s in an all-boys class to avoid worrying about getting nervous around girls.

In addition, Talan has enjoyed his first season of Upward flag football as wide receiver and quarterback. “He has played baseball but has since retired. His words, I swear,” Krista said.

At Heritage Elementary School, Talan is in second grade. He participates in Fitness and Nutrition Club to learn about a healthy lifestyle and exercise.

Rylan, Talan’s older brother, is a Liberty Middle School eighth-grader and plays baritone in Symphonic Band. Their brother two-year-old Tanner loves to play with Talan’s toys.

Their father Brian works as a federal program manager and as Chief Warrant Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. Krista works as an Information Technology assistant for Heritage.

On Thanksgiving 2015, the Robeys moved to Madison from Fredericksburg, Va. for Brian’s job on Redstone Arsenal. “All of our family is back in northern Virginia, and Talan misses them very much … especially his great Mimi,” Krista said.

Q & A

A: Marco’s Pizza, IHOP and Dairy Queen for their blizzards.

Q: What’s your favorite food?

A: Tacos and pizza. And strawberry shortcake, if he could eat dessert all day.

Q: What are your favorite sports teams?

A: Washington Redskins, Notre Dame football and Auburn Tigers.

Q: What’s your favorite sports memory?

A: It’s a tie. Talan caught “an awesome pass during a flag football game that resulted in major yardage for his team. Also, the first time he flipped over the bars in gymnastics,” Krista said.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Ride his bike, fish with his dad and big brother, build LEGOS and watch movies. On Friday family movie night, Talan enjoys eating popcorn and watching cool movies, like “Transformers.”

Talan has set ambitious goals. He wants to compete on the Olympics men’s gymnastics team and play drums in a rock band to jam out to “Enter Sandman.”