POLOKWANE – Jeanie Hatzikyriacos from Zani’s Gymnastics Academy is the new South African vault champion after winning a gold medal at the SA Gymnastics national championships in July.
“As a level 7 gymnast, Hatzikyriacos is the highest qualified gymnast in the province and she was the only gymnast from Limpopo to compete in the nationals,” Zani Prinsloo, owner and head coach of Zani’s Gymnastics Academy, explained.
“She is one of our top gymnasts and we are extremely proud of her,” added Prinsloo.
Hatzikyriacos won the gold medal in the level 7 vault event with an amazing score of 12,2 out of a possible 13 and came sixth overall in the country.
The championships took place in Klerksdorp and only level 7 to Olympic level gymnasts could compete. Hatzikyriacos also competed in the jumps, bridge, floor and beam events.
She started with gymnastics at Zani’s Academy when she was only four years old, and is also a qualified level 1 gymnastics judge.
This ambitious 17-year-old is looking to qualify for level 8 next year, which is at a high difficulty level, and currently practises for two hours a day to achieve this goal.
