Artistic gymnast Bianca Mann, 19, has joined her grandfather on the proud family list of Springboks when she was included in the SA team for the Commonwealth Games.
Mann, who is a member of the Visions Gymnastics Club in Roodepoort is one of 10 gymnasts who will be going to this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland next month.
Her grandfather, Tom van Vollenhoven was a legendary Springbok wing and will be remembered most for scoring a hat trick against the British Lions in 1955.
Van Vollenhoven was also one of the handful of South African rugby players who successfully changed to Rugby League and became a legend in St Helens in the United Kingdom (UK) where he played for 11 years.
Mann’s coach, Derrick Scholtz has a lot of praise for the youngster he has coached since she first started training at the club 13 years ago.
“Bianca always has been a talented one. She has won many national championships and is one of the most dedicated and determined athletes,” Scholtz says.
Scholtz adds that the Commonwealth Games will be Mann’s biggest challenge yet, even bigger than the Cottbus World Cup she attended in Germany in March this year. He is confident that she will bring home a medal.
“In Scotland it will be all about how she handles the pressure. Its going to be different and there is a lot at stake but I believe she can make the finals. From there, anything can happen.”
Mann is in good form considering she won four medals (silver overall; gold in the team event and two silvers on beam and bars) at the recent African Championships in Tunisia.
Asked if he is proud of Mann, Scholtz answers, “I’m more than proud. Her years of training and hard work have paid off. I know she will make us proud in Scotland.”
