JOHANNESBURG – South African gymnasts proudly flew Mzansi’s flag high at Mauritius’s African Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships.
Eyewitness News caught up with 13-year-old Isabella Sancho who brought home three medals from the competition namely a silver in the ball, and bronzes in the ribbon and the clubs.
“The hardest part for me was handling my nerves before competing but having Cecile Allen, my coach from Allegro, with me was a huge help as I have been with Allegro from the start, and they are like family to me,” said Sancho.
The youngster represented South Africa for the first edition of the Junior Rhythmic Gymnastics on 19-20 May, she is also the only junior Olympic gymnast from the Western Cape that qualified to represent SA for the year 2023 during the South African team trials.
Speaking to Eyewitness News on the development of the sports the athlete said: “I would love to see more help from a financial point of view and help with the funds to get not only women but also other athletes from South Africa to these big competitions and sporting events all around the world.”
The junior Olympic gymnast started her rhythmic gymnastics when she was 7-years-old, saying that she loved the different components that the sport had to offer and how technical but beautiful it was.
“Some of my highlights were becoming the South African champion in 2018, when I qualified for the South African team and my most recent competition, where I participated in Mauritius for the African Cup because it was my first international competition representing South Africa.”
The youngster trains about three hours a day Monday to Saturday and hopes to represent South Africa at more competitions, travel for the sport and go to the Olympics one day.
“I learnt a lot from going to these competitions and seeing how all the other gymnasts carry themselves and prepare themselves for their performance,” said Sancho.
FILE: South African athlete Isabella Sancho and Coach Cecile Steyn in Mauritius for the African Games. Picture: Allegro Rhythmic Gymnastics Club/ Facebook.
At the senior African Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Mauritius, South Africa was represented by athletes who also proudly bagged some medals.
Stephanie Dimitrova, Kgaogelo Maake and Azra Dewan secured a second-place finish in their group performance.
In the clubs event, Dimitrova walked away with a silver medal, while Azra Dewan walked away with a bronze medal.
Dimitrova bagged another medal after she finished in third place in the ribbons competition.
Podium training in Mauritius today 🌴🤸🏼♀️😎! All the best to team SA’s Stephanie Dimitrova, Kgaogelo Maake and Azra Dewan who will be fine tuning their routines ahead of the senior African Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships 2023 in Mauritius on 19-20 May.
Good luck girls! pic.twitter.com/HaI0pX6msY
‘ Gymnastics South Africa (@SAGymnastics) May 18, 2023