A clean routine for Caitlin Rooskrantz

Local star gymnast, Caitlin Rooskrantz (18) live-streamed the bar routine she would have performed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, on 2 August. The streaming was on a Sanlam online campaign site, Now is the Time to Plan, and the video is still available on YouTube here

“I was very happy with how my routine went, it was definitely one of my better routines,” Caitlin told Northcliff Melville Times. “Especially considering the three month to three and half months lockdown we were in and not allowed to train, and in the time I managed to put my routine together. It was really amazing what me and my coach did.” She admitted there were one or two minor errors in the routine only a gymnast would notice but she was still very pleased with how it went considering how little time she had to prepare.

“I was very nervous. It felt like just before a competition would feel. My main goal was to get through the routine clean, without any falls. Something that always comforts me before a competition was that I can trust my preparation because we prepare really well. With this time, I couldn’t really say that.” Caitlin said she relied more on her experience than preparation in this instance, and she felt proud to have done well. “I said to my mom, I watched the clip afterwards like I didn’t know that I was going to go clean and I was still so nervous before watching that.”

She added that if the Tokyo Olympics did take place next year she would use parts of the same routine but add’upgrades’ to it as well so it will be even better. The Olympic Games was moved to July and August next year in light of the coronavirus pandemic and there is still a chance the event could be scrapped entirely.

Caitlin would have been the first South African to compete in artistic gymnastics at the Olympics in 15 years. The gymnast played a key role in fundraising for the Newlands-based Johannesburg Gymnastics Centre when it faced financial difficulty during the lockdown.

Watch the full routine here: