His Calm Exterior Is Just a Smoke Screen : Low-Key Sincharoen Can Be Expected to Bring Fire to Festival Gymnastics Debut

For somebody who is nicknamed after a dragon, Gewin Sincharoen sure doesn’t blow a lot of smoke. In fact, Sincharoen--known as “Puff” to his family and friends--really doesn’t have much to say.

But even though Sincharoen isn’t talking, the 17-year-old gymnast is quietly making noise as he moves up the national ranks of men’s gymnastics. After five consecutive appearances in the Junior Olympics, Sincharoen (pronounced sin-chu-REE-un) will compete in the Olympic Festival for the first time.

The La Canada High senior is one of only three gymnasts from California--and the only gymnast from the Los Angeles area--who is competing in the Olympic Festival in San Antonio.

Sincharoen, who was born in the Chinese Year of the Dragon and picked up his moniker from the “Puff the Magic Dragon” character, certainly isn’t quick to reveal his emotions.

Is he excited about the Olympic Festival?

“Yeah.”

Nervous?

“Not really.”

Any goals?

“Just to have fun, I guess.”

Certainly not as talkative as the typical teen-ager. His father, Pojna, allows that it is difficult to get Puff to say much about his performances, even after his best showing, in the 1992 Junior Olympics. Sincharoen placed first in the high bar, second in the pommel horse and floor exercise, and fifth in the all-around competition.

“After he won high bar I went down and asked him, ‘Are you happy?’ And all he said was, ‘Uh-huh,’ ” Pojna Sincharoen said.

Dan Connelly, his coach at Le Club Gymnastics in Chatsworth, explains this is just the way Sincharoen is.

“I always see your performance being an expression of your personality, and I think (his performance) is a true expression of his personality,” Connelly said. “(People) see him as being very quiet, but there is a tiger inside of him and every once in a while that strong part of his personality jumps out at you.

“His gymnastics is just like that too. He can be up on the high bar and swinging real smooth and kind of quiet and then the next thing you know he’s incredibly explosive and does something that blows people’s minds.”

Sincharoen started gymnastics eight years ago, when his mother would drop him off at the YMCA where his older sister Sirinda was taking classes. After three years, he began competing and moving toward more advanced levels.

Sincharoen’s first appearance in the Junior Olympics came in 1989 when he placed 53rd. Soon afterward, he switched coaches and came to Connelly, who at the time was working at Gymnastics Olympica in Van Nuys. After less than one year under Connelly, Sincharoen won the pommel horse and skyrocketed to an 11th all-around finish in the 1990 Junior Olympics.

Sincharoen, in typical fashion, said: “I just got a lot better, I guess.”

His calm, reserved manner is perfect for a sport such as gymnastics--the slightest wobble or a brief loss of concentration can mean the difference between first place and 15th--even when it frustrates other people.

“For a kid, he’s very patient. He’s kind of like, ‘Fine, it’ll happen, it’ll get done.’ ” Connelly said. “If you’re training for something big and there’s actually a deadline on when you have to be prepared . . . then that can be pretty infuriating for the coach because he is so laid-back. He doesn’t really seem to have a feeling of urgency with regard to his preparation. But that’s a part of his personality.”

The combination of talent and his ability to compete under pressure prompts Connelly to predict that Sincharoen could be his next Olympic contender. Connelly previously coached Olympic gold medalist Mitch Gaylord (1984) and Charles Lake (1988).

“He’s got a sleeping giant inside,” Connelly said. “I see him going all the way and making the Olympic team in 1996. . . . I’ve been wrong before--but I’ve had two of them make it.”

Connelly says he recognizes the same qualities in Sincharoen that he saw in Gaylord and Lake. “He has the air sense, the learning capacity,” he said. “Probably the key ingredient is his ability to compete. He competes better than anybody I’ve ever coached. I always thought Charlie (Lake) was good under pressure, but this guy--he makes Charlie look like a pussycat.”

Sincharoen, in his reserved way, concedes he wants to make the 1996 U.S. Olympic team but doesn’t feel pressured to live up to anybody’s expectations. He competes at the junior-elite level and trains about 20 hours a week with Connelly.

“I don’t want to overpush him,” Pojna Sincharoen said. “I don’t say, ‘You must set goals and go to the Olympics.’ I let him make his own decisions and be comfortable with what he does.”