Geo Gan: The Journey of a Yo-Yo Champion

Geo Gan’s journey into yo-yoing began when he was introduced to the sport by friends during recess at school. Intrigued by their skills, he gave it a try but struggled initially. “I was really bad at it at first,” he admits. “I couldn’t even make the yo-yo go up and down.” But everything changed during a family trip to Niagara Falls for the solar eclipse. Geo picked up a wooden yo-yo from a gift shop, and with his dad’s help, he started learning tricks that would soon ignite his passion for the sport.
The first trick Geo ever mastered was the gravity pull, a basic move where the yo-yo goes up and down. “It’s the most basic trick, but it got me hooked,” he shares. As he practiced more, Geo fell in love with yo-yoing not only for the skill but also because of the community. “The yo-yo world is filled with really nice people, and there are infinite possibilities,” he says. “You can even create your own tricks!”
Geo practices around 14 hours each week, dedicating two hours daily to improve his skills. The hardest trick he’s conquered so far is the 3.5 hook, which took him a whole year to master. “It’s definitely challenging, but it felt amazing to finally get it,” he says. He’s now focusing on perfecting behind-the-back tricks and a reverse Brent-stole to 3.5 hook.
As a young competitor, Geo has already achieved incredible milestones. Winning his first championship left him in shock. “I had a couple of misses on stage and didn’t expect to win,” he recalls. “So when they called my name for first place, I was really surprised.” At just 10 years old, Geo became the U.S. National Yo-Yo Champion, a huge accomplishment in the yo-yo community. “It felt amazing and surprising,” he says.
Geo’s dedication extends beyond competitions. After returning from a trip to China, where he learned advanced tricks, he started a yo-yo club at school. “At first, it was really exciting teaching my friends,” Geo recalls. “But eventually, they lost interest as I got better, and they went back to soccer.”
Despite this, Geo remains passionate about sharing yo-yoing with others. His school supported him by providing space for the club, and the yo-yo community has always been there for him, offering advice and camaraderie. Looking ahead, Geo is training for the World Yo-Yo Contest in Prague. His ultimate goal? To win the Pro Division at the World Yo-Yo Contest.
In the future, Geo hopes to continue competing while potentially offering yo-yo lessons. “Maybe in the future, I’ll start giving lessons to others,” he says. His story is an inspiring reminder of how passion, practice, and community support can lead to incredible success.

Comments