Louie Langmead new owner of fully renovated Jetts Gympie

A personal trainer who was one of many who lost their jobs due to Covid-19 is now on top of the world running his own freshly refurbished gym.

A former class instructor who lost his job during Covid-19 quarantine is now the head of his own gym following two years of “hard work.”

Louie Langmead, 24, bought Jetts Gympie about four months ago after working as a personal trainer and then manager for two years at the gym.

He was previously working as a class instructor at Gympie City Gym before he was unemployed for several months due to pandemic regulations.

It took “a lot of hard work” to rise from unemployment to owner of one of Gympie’s gyms, Mr Langmead said.

He said he always preferred “doing his own thing” rather than working for someone else and jumped at the opportunity to take over the gym, he said.

“The worst thing I can do is fail and start again,” Mr Langmead said.

“It feels like freedom.”

Louie Langmead is new owner of Jetts Gympie.

Mr Langmead said his favourite part of running the gym is walking into the building knowing it’s his own and seeing its friendly patrons visibly happy.

“Most days, it doesn’t even feel like work,” he said.

The gym was closed for more than a week for refurbishment and reopened on Tuesday, December 20.

Everything from the floor to the walls were renovated and new equipment including power racks and more barbells were moved into the gym.

Many people dropped in while the gym was closed to check on the progress and congratulated Mr Langmead on the new look, he said.

Mr Langmead aims to keep the business a community gym and help people reach their fitness goals and improve themselves.

Outside of the gym, the former Gympie State High School student enjoys various sports including soccer, boxing and surfing at Noosa and Coolum.

Mr Langmead used to play at Gympie United Football Club and was a sponsor for the club this year, he said.