Young entrepreneur Ali Akon opens Phalanx Fitness, Babinda

A young man’s passion to bring together fitness and community has resulted in the launch of Babinda’s newest gym, which will open its doors later this month.

Teen entrepreneur Akon Ali will open his first gym, Phalanx Fitness in Babinda later this month. Photo: Supplied.

A young man’s passion to bring together fitness and community has resulted in the launch of Babinda’s newest gym.

Phalanx Fitness, which will open its doors later this month, is owned and run by 18-year-old Akon Ali.

“We are 100 per cent scheduled to open up our kids program on January 8,” Mr Ali said.

“Our open gym isn’t scheduled to open up on an official date... but we can 100 per cent confirm we will be opening (this month).”

The teenager, who graduated high school in 2023, said opening the gym was a natural fit, combining his love of fitness and servicing the community.

“I’ve grown up in an entrepreneurial household and so I kind of came out of school and got straight into the business world essentially,” he said.

“I got into fitness a long time ago – I’ve always been a sporty kid, the athlete of the family, and this project more so feels like a passion.”

Teen entrepreneur Akon Ali will open his first gym, Phalanx Fitness in Babinda later this month. Photo: Supplied.

After moving to Babinda from the Gold Coast in 2023, Mr Ali said he saw a gap for a communal work out space and wanted to invest in the tight-knit community.

“It started out as a passion project journey and turned out the whole community also needed it and started telling me you should turn it into something bigger,” he said.

In addition to a traditional workout space, Mr Ali said the gym would also feature a health bar and lounge area, a children’s creche and a teenage fitness program.

“I’m also preparing to turn this place into a community hub rather than just a gym,” he said.

“Kind of a space for people to come in on any basis to work out, hang out, be with friends and the community.”

Mr Ali said he was also passionate about giving young people a safe space to use particularly throughout the school holidays.

“We’re offering a youth program for kids to come in for four weeks free through our Phalanx Academy to introduce them to fitness and how to operate equipment safely and give kids who don’t have the ability or financial security to be able to have a membership,” he said.

“(Babinda’s) a tight-knit community, and rich in spirit and I saw this as an opportunity for us to all come together, grow and increase the (town’s) profile.”

Originally published as Young entrepreneur Ali Akon opens Phalanx Fitness, Babinda