Gymnasts gear up to represent South Africa on the world stage
BERARIO – Gymnasts work hard to perfect their techniques at the Berario Recreation Centre.
The Gold Reef Rhythmic Gymnastics club instils the spirit of hard work and determination in their gymnasts.
The club’s coach Julene van Rooyen said gymnast Kayla Rondi will represent South Africa at the 14th Gymnastics African Championship in Egypt from 23 April to 29 April.
She will form part of the Junior Olympic Team after having qualified and being ranked third in the country at the Junior Olympic Level at the African Championships Trials that were held in January this year.
Rondi said her coaches have been pushing her to practise and perform to the best of her abilities in preparation for the competition.
“I’ll be competing in the Junior Olympics, in the hoop ball clubs and rhythm category,” said Kayla.
“My coach Julene who also went through the same journey as a gymnast helps us do our best and how to focus. Maureen is my other coach who I’ve learnt so much from and I just love her.”
Van Rooyen added the club was established 30 years ago and she believed training was one of the key components to being a successful gymnast.
“The harder you work, the luckier you get,” she said.
“I live and train by that quote when I also used to be a gymnast. I inspire them [gymnasts] through events which I experienced within my career as a gymnast and how they can do things differently.
It’s important they feel confident when they walk onto the floor. I’m very proud of Kayla, she is one of the hardest working gymnasts I know.”
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