Medals and memories for young gymnasts
NEWLANDS – Gymnasts of the Johannesburg Gymnastics Centre will forever remember what they achieved in Namibia and Germany.
Local gymnasts have brought back shining memories and medals from the Junior Commonwealth Games, and Leverkusen Cup.
Having just returned from the events in October, the seven girls aged between 14 and 17 are already practising on the vault, bar, beam and floor at the Johannesburg Gymnastics Centre in Newlands.
Representing South Africa at the Junior Commonwealth Games in Namibia, the gymnasts helped SA secure second place overall behind Wales, and ahead of New Zealand in third. Furthermore, Caitlin Rooskrantz from Fairland won second place in the overall individual gymnast category for her silver medal on vault and bronze medal on bar.
Naveen Daries also came fourth overall for her fourth place finishes in vault and beam. Caitlyn Kelly also came fourth on the bar.
At the Leverkusen Cup in Germany, Aatiqah Abrahams won a bronze medal on vault.
“I am happy with the result,” smiled the proud coach, Ilse Roets-Pelser. “The competition was tough and they did very well.” She added that the girls proved to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympics Committee that they would be a force to contend with at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, if selected.
“It was one of my best competitions,” said Rooskrantz, who thanked her coaches, friends, family and teammates for their support. “I definitely hope to build on this success in my career.” Abrahams said the standard of gymnastics was very high in Germany, and if it was not for the support from her mother, Ferosa Alexander, who picked her up when she doubted herself, she would not have come this far.
Details: Johannesburg Gymnastics Centre, jgcgymnastics@absamail.co.za or 083 634 6164.
