Smiles for Gold Reef
BERARIO – Local rhythmic gymnasts win a trophy in Germany, perform well in Austria.
Gold Reef Rhythmic Gymnastics has a lot to celebrate after spectacular results abroad.
The gymnastics club based in Berario sent a team of 29 gymnasts between the ages of 12 and 26 to the World Gymnaestrada in Dornbirn, Austria. Although the quality of gymnastics was exceptional, the competition did not feature placings.
The same team then travelled to the Gymnastica competition in Bürstadt, Germany, where the team finished second out of 34 teams.
Sisters, Aimee and Julene van Rooyen were responsible for their choreography and music.
The theme for their performances at the two competitions was the ‘secret life of dolls’, a 13-minute item that featured the gymnasts acting as dolls waking up and trying on new clothes.
“The children cannot stop talking about it, they have learned so much,” said Aimee of the trip.
“They have experienced different parts of the world and learned that gymnastics is huge in other countries.”
The sisters explained that some of the team members were invited from other gymnastics clubs. Now that the team has returned, when Gold Reef members compete against their former teammates at local competitions, they cheer them on.
Even the members’ individual routines have improved.
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The club also celebrated the success of Kayla Rondi (15), who represented South Africa at the Junior Rhythmic World Championships in July.
She placed first overall in her trials and gained a great deal of experience while competing in the championships.
“I learnt about how much hard work is required at that level and it inspired me,” Kayla said.
An upcoming target for Gold Reef Rhythmic Gymnastics is the World Gym for Life competition in Portugal in 2021. Gold Reef won a gold medal at the event when it was hosted in Cape Town in 2013 and has a point to prove this time round.
The rhythmic gymnastics nationals will be held in Durban in late September and the African championships are in Egypt in 2020.
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