Vaulting to the top in the world of gymnastics
DAINFERN – At 17 years old Gabriela Murray has gone from strength to strength in the world of artistic gymnastics and has just received her Springbok colours in the sport ahead of the African Championships.
Gabriela Murray is only 17 years old but she definitely has the moves to impress the judges.
The teenager started practising artistic gymnastics more than 11 years ago and has just been awarded her Springbok colours.
Artistic gymnastics is a branch of the sport where athletes perform short routines on a number of different apparatuses. She participates in four apparatuses: the beam, the bar, floor and vault exercises. Gabriela has been with the Paragon Gymnastics Club in Rivonia under coach Jennifer Parsons since she started the sport.
“Gabby trains 27 hours a week,” said Parsons who owns the Paragon Gymnastics Club.
“She puts in so many hours because working on four apparatuses means that she’s not just focusing on one set of skills, but needs to master many.
“There are no holidays in this sport, so you really have to be passionate about gymnastics to keep going, and she is passionate.”
Currently in Grade 11 at Dainfern College, Gabriela’s most recent competition was the Ukrainian International Cup, hosted in Kiev from 31 March until 1 April, where she achieved sixth place and won a bronze medal in vaulting, the first international medal that she has ever been awarded.
“I enjoy the number of hours I put in,” said Gabriela.
“You really see success from all your work and effort. It is challenging, sometimes you feel like giving up. But then when you win, that feeling of success is so worth all the hard work.”
Next up she will be competing in the African Championships in Namibia from 9 until 12 May. But it is the 2018 World Artistic Gymnastics Championship that she is most excited about competing in, and Murray will begin trials for the event in July.
“Gabby does have a natural talent for gymnastics and talent definitely plays a role in doing well at the sport,” said Parsons.
“But I’d say 90 per cent of any athlete’s success is hard work. Dedication and patience are needed in the world of gymnastics, as success won’t happen overnight, so athletes need to be motivated to stick with it and take the good days with the bad.”
Details: The Paragon Gymnastics Club Facebook page
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