Africa – Republic of South Africa

Our voyage ends with South Africa, the only African nation participating in these Championships. We’ve got Matome Tshishonga, base in Mixed Pairs and highly motivated, pairing up with Natalie Victoria Friesling and the young Claudia Havenga, top in Trio. These three young athletes have brought a breath of fresh air to Acrobatic Gymnastics, and they are extremely happy to be here meeting gymnasts from all over the world. Like the Australians, it’s hard for them to get to know gymnasts outside their own country. The only international events they can take part in are the World Championships every two years, and they lament the fact that they have so little opportunity to meet with their international friends.

 In South Africa, the discipline lacks in popularity and remains in the shadow of Artistic. As students, these three gymnasts are unable to practise sufficiently outside of school, as the sport-study programme is for Artistic Gymnastics only. With 3.5 hours of training 6 times per week, they are all too familiar with how their level gets compromised. Worse, Natalie fractured her arm this year and the Mixed Pair had a mere nine months to prepare for the Senior level.

Their objective is to place among the top ten, possibly secure a place in the Final, and thus proudly represent the some 40 South African gymnasts practising the discipline at the FIG level back home. They anticipate the next World Championships in two years and hope to be in a much better position. It’s our guess that their passion will not only bring them to that event, it will spur the development of ACRO across the entire African continent.