He's only eight, but Offaly boy Konrad is already a national champion!

AT just eight years of age, Konrad Skura is a national champion and is flying to the UK on Friday to represent his country.

The Tullamore boy won a gold medal in acrobatics with his partner Simon Milejczyk (14), Dublin, at the Irish championships at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena.

A child prodigy, Konrad is also a gifted dancer and after securing his acrobatics medal he went on to win a dance title in Ashbourne last Sunday.

His mother Agnieszka said she noticed his talents from a very young age.

“From [when he was] a very very little boy we saw what he likes and what he's interested in. The first thing was[we thought] he'll be a good singer at the age of maybe three and then he saw his best friend doing a cartwheel and that just blew his mind and he started doing them,” she said.

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At just four-and-a-half he was brought to acrobatic dancing classes at the Charleville Centre and though they normally did not admit those under the age of five, Konrad was allowed to join and progressed to train with the Elevate Dance Academy in Mullingar.

Because he liked acrobatics so much, his parents Agnieszka and Lucas enrolled him at the Excel Gymnastics Club in Dublin where he trains for three hours, three times a week.

That dedication paid off at the Gymnastics Ireland National Series where he and Simon impressed the judges with a near flawless performance on the mat.

Agnieszka says Konrad was a “little bit scared” at first when he started in acrobatics, because of his young age and the heights involved.

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But his natural strength and flexibility meant the sport really suited him and once the club found him a suitable partner for the pairs competition, he was on his way.

Konrad showed determination during the pairs routine in the National Indoor Arena, battling on to the finish despite banging his nose on the ground at one stage.

“We couldn't believe it, with the nose pain he didn't stop, he finished, he did everything absolutely perfect.”

Konrad, who has two brothers, Szymon and David, now travels to the prestigious Tigers International Acrobatics Cup in Kent, England where he and Simon will again be hoping to catch the eye of the judges.

After training on Friday they will compete on Saturday. Konrad's parents are travelling to support him.

Asked how she felt about his achievement, Agnieszka simply said: “Proud.”