Rhythmic Ballito gymnast dances to gold
Her performances earned her the overall gold medal in the over-14 level five category and also helped to propel KwaZulu-Natal to the team gold medal.
Ballito’s Eden van der Merwe is a rhythmic gymnastics superstar, recently claiming gold at the South African Gym Games.
Fifteen-year-old Van der Merwe has come forward in leaps and bounds during her six years in the sport and beat out gymnasts from across the country at Wits University.
The SA Gym Games are the premier competition for age group rhythmic gymnastics in the country.
It is a wide-ranging sport which borders on an artform, in which performers complete routines using hoops, balls, ribbons, clubs and rope, or while free dancing.
It combines choreography with technical precision and demands strength, flexibility and co-ordination from its athletes.
Van der Merwe’s specialty is the ribbon and hoop, both of which she won at the Gym Games, while she also competed in the free dance section.
Her performances earned her the overall gold medal for the over-14 level five category and also helped to propel KwaZulu-Natal to the team gold medal.
“She is extremely diligent in her training and said to me at the start of the year that she wanted to win this title. I’m very proud of her hard work and how she’s grown in the sport,” said Eden’s mother, Erin.
Van der Merwe is home-schooled by way of the online Koa Academy and trains with coach Kayleigh Slaughter of Ocean Rhythmic Gymnastics at Salt Rock Country Club.
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