Butler resident Josh Gayhart does some sideline practice at the Salem Double Switch Trials in August of 2018. Gayhart placed third at the Freestyle World Footbag Championships online event recently.

Talk about putting your best feet forward.

Butler resident Josh Gayhart was able to do so on the world stage recently — thanks in part to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gayhart, 34, competed in his first Freestyle World Footbag Championships and placed third in the Open Sick3 Division earlier this month. Because of the pandemic, the world championships were conducted online.

“You had a three-week time frame in which to submit your video,” Gayhart said. “I loved the format. There's a lot less pressure than actually performing live.

“There was a live stream of the whole thing on YouTube. I liked how it was done. They should have two world championships every year — one at an actual site, the other online — so everyone interested can have a chance to compete.”

Gayhart has competed in footbag events before. He's placed fourth and second, respectively, at the New Year's Jam in Detroit the past two years.

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