Gymnastics started off as just fun for St Mary’s learner
Zeinab said that besides gymnastics she does ballet, plays piano and is also in the school choir.
Grade 7 learner at St Mary’s School, Waverley, Zeinab Kone is well on her way to becoming a top gymnast.
The youngster started gymnastics when she was seven years old. The school offers rhythmic gymnastics as a co-curricular activity and it fitted into Zeinab’s after-school schedule, so her mother signed her up. “At first, I did it for fun, but when I started competing and doing well, I began to take it seriously. In 2017, I was the South African champion for Level 6 and I was switched over from recreational to high-performance gymnastics. I am now a Junior Olympic level gymnast,” Zeinab said.
She added that she always prioritises her schoolwork. “Sometimes it is not easy because I normally train six days a week, but I always make sure my homework is done, even if I have to do it in the car on the way to practice. I do not have much time to socialise because after gym practice I am doing schoolwork. But I am very proud of my certificates for academic excellence.”
Zeinab said that besides gymnastics she does ballet, plays piano and is also in the school choir. The gymnastics enthusiast said Covid-19 and lockdown have greatly affected her training. She now trains with her coach Natallia Paizakis via Zoom, and her living room has become her gym. “We also do not know when or whether we will be competing this year. On the other hand, I feel like I have become stronger during lockdown because I do body-conditioning.”
Sharing words of encouragement, the young gymnast said, “You mustn’t give up on your dreams just because you are stuck at home. You should continue doing what you love if it makes you happy. Even under the circumstances, you should keep on training hard. Lockdown is just another speed bump and there will be many more speed bumps in your life that could be worse, so keep on holding on to hope.
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