WATCH: Gymnasts bounce back for champs
“It took me a month to recover fully from my thumb injury and Rachel trained with a moonboot, brace and she’s now training with strappings on her ankle.”
Local gymnasts Bailey Courtney, Rachel Walker and Anchè Davidson began last year optimistic they would stay healthy in their pursuit to qualify for the 13th FIG Acrobatic Gymnastics World Age Group Competitions in Portugal next month.
But a dislocated shoulder and thumb, broken ankle and lengthy hospital stays almost dashed those hopes as doubts started to creep in the minds of the trio when it became apparent their chances of making their first world championships were vanishing.
It all started in July last year when Laerskool Kruinsig learner Davidson (13) was hospitalised for a month in the middle of their preparation for the three national trials for the worlds.
They missed two try-outs due Davidson’s hospitalisation but it was a welcome relief they scored enough points to succeed in the last qualifier in October.
In March, however, Courtney (18) dislocated her thumb when Davidson landed on it during training and Walker (15), dislocated her shoulder in the middle of a routine in a competition before breaking a ligament in her right ankle when she jumped of off Courtney in June.
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Determined to do whatever it took to book their tickets to Guimaraes, the trio has overcome all these obstacles and with two weeks left before the global showpiece, they look sharp and ready to compete.
Determination
“I think everything is going pretty well. Our tricks seem pretty good,” said Kempton Park resident Courtney.
“It took me a month to recover fully from my thumb injury and Rachel trained with a moonboot, brace and she’s now training with strappings on her ankle.”
The gymnasts displayed their captivating routines to the Benoni City Times at Gymfinity Acrobatic and Trampoline Club on August 24.
They combined the beauty of dance and strength of gymnastics in their balance and dynamic routines where Walker and Courtney threw Davidson up and she flipped and twisted in the air while they offered the base to support their partner.
“We are a lot better. There was a really rough patch just after I hurt my ankle because we didn’t know whether or not we’ll go to the worlds. But we stayed strong,” said Walker.
They linked up in early 2022 to form one of the best women’s trios in SA in their category. To get to where they are wasn’t easy. It was their determination, commitment and hard work to achieve their goal that has resulted in their success.
“Rachel and I have been together for 10 years. We had been through lots of trios but it didn’t work out. We got Bailey and we gelled quickly. It took us a month to build trust and from there we’ve got better,” Davidson said.
They will compete against 36 other trios in the women’s 13-19 category at the worlds. While it will be tough, the hoops and obstacles they overcame have given them strength and motivation to challenge for a top 10 position so they could earn their Protea colours.
“It’s been my dream to compete at the worlds since I started. It’s still doesn’t feel real,” said Benoni High learner Walker.
Davidson added, “If we do our best, we’ll be happy”.
Their coach Armand Koekemoer is optimistic that if all goes accordingly, the girls will crack the top 10.
“I’m extremely proud of all three of them because they all went through their own obstacles. We’ve been working very hard to get to where we are. To finally be where we are this close to the competition in exactly where we want to be,” he said.
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