Joining a world famous circus and regularly meeting VIP visitors to the show may have been a childhood wish for millions of people, but very few actually get to live out the dream. But for one talented Pembrokeshire gymnast, who has already starred at international level, that’s exactly what has happened.

Harry Owen, a former pupil of St Oswald’s School and Greenhill School, Tenby, is well established as Pembrokeshire’s most successful ever gymnast – winning a record 11 medals at the UK School Games through his teenage years, becoming British Champion on pommel horse as part of a four medal haul at the under 18 British Championships, then achieving bronze medal at the Youth Commonwealth Games and enjoying a career high in the Summer of 2014 when he made the final of the men’s all-round competition when representing Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

After that he competed on the professional circuit in Germany, but such is the nature of gymnastics, careers are not prolonged and he confirmed his retirement in 2015.

But the 23-year-old wasn’t going to let years of dedication and training in his chosen sport – that saw him progress from Milford Haven Gymnastics Club as a six-year-old, to the Swansea Gymnastics Centre, to Loughborough University – go to waste.

Harry registered his interest with representatives of Cirque Du Soleil, the world’s biggest acrobatic circus. He then had to undertake two gruelling Cirque Du Soleil auditions in Orlando, U.S.A and there was no rest when he came home, with the circus requiring him to send over videos of his training routines and progress.

Eventually he was selected and contracted to perform on the ‘swinging rings’ for their impending worldwide ‘VOLTA’ tour, and in September 2016 moved to Montreal, Canada as he prepared to embark on an exciting new adventure. The show, based in Montreal, employs approximately 4,000 people worldwide from more than 40 countries, and generates an estimated annual revenue exceeding $810million.

Harry recently commented about his new career: “Making a big life decision like this was easier than I thought it would be. I’ve always seen myself performing on stage at some point in my life and this year was the time to really push for this type of career after just retiring from competitive gymnastics.

“Cirque Du Soleil has a number of productions worldwide and I’m so honoured to be a part of such an amazing company. I’m now performing in front of thousands of people every day as part of a world tour. It’s something I could call a dream job. I’ve nearly completed the tour of Canada taking part in over 300 shows whilst in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.

“In addition to my ‘swinging rings’ act I am now regularly performing an additional act, which is quite a challenge, called ‘spinning ladders’ with aerial- artiste partner Laurie Ardornato.’

“I’ll soon be having well-earned a 10 day break back in the UK , including coming back to Pembrokeshire at the end of November, after which I’ll be starting the USA part of the tour beginning in Miami and then on to New York and I’m really looking forward to that,” he added.

Backstage with the stars

Cirque Du Soleil, especially the new ‘VOLTA’ show, is ever popular with visiting celebrities who often come backstage to meet the cast.

During the Canadian leg of the tour Harry was chosen for a photo-shoot with Lewis Hamilton being one of only a few ‘British’ performing members of the VOLTA cast, when he was in ‘town’ for the Canadian Grand Prix.

There have been other recent back stage meetings and photographs with pop stars Christina Aguilera, James Blunt, Adam Lambert (American Idol), Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, James McAvoy (of X-men fame) and rock legends Brian May and Roger Taylor of ‘Queen’.

Now Harry looks forward to living the ‘American dream’.

His progress can be followed via various clips on the Cirque Du Soleil website but especially by accessing his Instagram or Twitter account on @HarryOwen93