WATCH: Gymnasts raise the bar

Seven girls from the Johannesburg Gymnastics Centre are ready to own the vault, bar, beam and floor at the Junior Commonwealth Games and the Leverkusen Cup.

The Commonwealth Games, in Namibia, and the Leverkusen Cup, in Germany, will be held around the same time in early and mid-October, and the girls aged between 14 and 17 are rearing to go.

Five of the girls will participate in the Commonwealth Games, while two will compete in Germany.

“I am very excited, although a bit nervous about going to the Commonwealth Games,” said Caitlyn Kelly, while practising side aerials on the balancing beam.

“I want to finish clean, and not fault. But I also want to enjoy myself and have a good time.”

Mammule Rankoe, who will go to Germany, feels ‘excited and overjoyed’. “The bar is my favourite apparatus and I hope to do well on it.”

Fairland resident, Caitlin Rooskrantz said the Commonwealth Games will provide a good opportunity to see how good she is compared to other gymnasts around the world.

Coach, Ilse Roets-Pelser takes a great deal of experience with her. She has been the coach for South Africa’s national gymnastics teams at six world championships and three Commonwealth Games, including the Glasgow XX Commonwealth Games (The 2014 Commonwealth Games).

“Our chances are very good. We will be competing against strong countries and it is all about seeing how we do against top gymnasts,” she said.

“We are hoping for at least one final per apparatus and a top three finish in the team event.”

The gymnasts are Aatiqah Abrahams (Leverkusen Cup), Caitlin Rooskrantz, Caitlyn Kelly, Courtney Noel, Jade Pailman, Mammule Rankoe (Leverkusen Cup) and Naveen Daries.

Details: jgcgymnastics@absamail.co.za; 083 634 6164.