Young local gymnasts look forward to Egypt competition trip
ROSEBANK – One of the five members of the Gold Reef Senior Rhythmic Gymnastics Group is a learner at St Teresa's and she shared her excitement about their achievement.
Gymnasts who were part of a junior group representing South Africa two years ago look forward to being part of a senior group this year.
Three learners from the previous junior group which represented SA at the 14th African Championships in Cairo, Egypt in 2018 will be joined by two new members, making a team of five. This time they will be the Gold Reef Senior Rhythmic Gymnastics Group, which will represent the country in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt from 9 to 15 March for the 15th African Championships.
The five learners attend different schools from around Johannesburg and Hannah Cawood who goes to St Teresa’s School in Rosebank shared her experience and how she felt about their achievement. “We started competing for the senior group at the end of 2018 and we qualified in September last year at nationals in Durban,” she said.
The young gymnast added that they had two international coaches, from Spain and Italy come and choreograph their routines.
Hannah said she is excited that they will be awarded their Proteas colours after they compete in Egypt. “We are a group and we all have to be very committed and we have to be there at the same time when we train at Berario Recreation Centre. We train five days a week, for four hours each day and then on one day, which is Thursday, we do ballet and bio-kinetics just to balance out,” Hannah said.
She added that they have three coaches, Julene (group coach), Maureen (head and founder of the Gold Reef Rhythmic Gymnastics Group) and Aimee Van Rooyen.
To gain experience of competing in an international competition, Hannah said the gymnasts went to Dubai in December last year for about a week. They participated in a competition there and did a training camp with some Olympic gymnasts. “I’m happy to be in this group. I love it more than doing individual routines. I don’t get as nervous when I compete because we have each other’s backs – always.”
Have there been any outstanding sports performers at your school? Let us know by sending an email to naidines@caxton.co.za
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