Gymnists bring home gold

Valeriedene’s Bianca Mann was part of the South African National senior women’s team that won gold at the 12th African Gymnastics Championships.

Mann was one of Visions Gymnastics Club’s four members who were chosen to represent the country.

The club’s head coach Derick Scholtz praised Mann’s star performance.

“She controlled her nerves and put on her best performance at an international event to date. This put her in a superb second place in the all-round finals,” Scholtz said.

“Bianca also made finals for vault, bars and beam. She achieved a silver on bars and silver on beam which makes her total medal tally one gold and three silvers.

Following this excellent performance, she was nominated by the South African Gymnastics Federation as part of the team to represent South Africa at the Commonwealth Games later this year.”

Scholtz said the entire South African team is awaiting approval from the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee.

Michael Makings, Muhammad Khaalid Mia and Keagan Pearson also made the Hillfox-based club proud in their respective teams, bringing back a total of 10 medals between them for the national team.

“Our senior men’s artistic team improved from their previous fourth place to a super third. The senior sen’s artistic Gymnastics competition is a hotly contested event in Africa and we are proud that Michael Makings could lead the team as captain to achieve third place overall.”

Mia led from the front and assisted his junior team to achieve an overall silver medal. In addition, he came third all-around and third on P-bars (Parallel bars) and H-bar (High bars).

“At just 15 years old, Muhammad Khaalid became the youngest male gymnast in Africa to claim a medal – a superb achievement indeed.”

Debut South African team member Pearson’s scores contributed towards the final team silver place.

“We are very proud of our gymnasts and with these results, Visions Gymnastics confirms a place as a top club in South Africa,” proud club owner and coach Adéle Heine said.

“We are the only club in South Africa that consistently produces individual international medal winners in both men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics disciplines.”