Walvis Bay hosts second qualifying tumbling and trampoline competition
Gymnastics
The next upcoming international event will be the Region 5 Gymnastics Championships, which will be held in December in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The second qualifying competition for the Tumbling and Trampoline (T&T) division, a section within the Namibia Gymnastics Federation (NGF), took place in Walvis Bay this past weekend.About 60 gymnasts from four clubs competed in the event. According to Monica Bohm, an executive committee member of the NGF, although this is the smallest section within the Federation, it has achieved the most success this year.
A notable achievement is Jessica Blaauw being crowned African Champion in trampoline in Tunisia in May. She also clinched a silver medal in the synchronized trampoline section with Hannah Duinaski at the same competition.
“I think for us it's very special, not just for the Trampolining section, but for us as the Namibia Gymnastics Federation in general, because we've been kept out of competition due to all these legal battles and international suspension for over four years now. So, we really came back for the first time into the international arena, and for us to actually win that medal, to be there, to be represented again, is a big milestone. It contributes positively to everyone around. We're very thankful, very grateful, and obviously very proud of our gymnasts,” Bohm added.
Sharifa Wentworth, NGF president, emphasized that the sport needs all the support it can get.
“We need sponsorships and support, and what we have proven is that we have the best quality coaches. I think having an African champion in our midst is a motivation to the rest of the gymnasts, and that's why the sport is growing internationally. As I always say, it's not just the child who shows up at the event, it's the parents. We continue to call for support from our community, our leaders, and our industry at large to help these gymnasts achieve their goals. It's an inspiration to know that this small country can achieve anything, including having African champions and potential Olympic champions in our midst.”
Wentworth added that this competition, hosted by the NGF as the only registered sports body for gymnastics in Namibia, counts towards participation and awards for the season’s National Championships, which will be held at the end of October this year.
“There are currently almost 700 gymnasts registered with the NGF, of which 85 participate in Trampoline and Tumbling gymnastics. 2024 marks the first full year where our gymnasts could freely participate again after the two-year suspension that kept them out of international competition. We are thrilled to see our gymnast numbers grow again, especially among the younger ages and entry-level gymnasts.”
The next upcoming international event for all our gymnasts will be the Region 5 Gymnastics Championships, which will be held in December in Harare, Zimbabwe. This will be an exciting opportunity for our gymnasts aged 9 years and older to showcase their talent on a regional level. National Trials for this event will be held at the third T&T qualifying event on 20-21 September in Windhoek.