WATCH: Legacy Gymnastics Club celebrates awards and global judging appointments

For nearly five decades, Legacy Gymnastics Club, previously known as Alberton Gymnastics Club, has shaped young gymnasts, produced national medalists and built a reputation respected across South Africa.

Now, the club is celebrating another milestone after coaches and judges were recognised at the 2025 Ekurhuleni district prize-giving.

Among those honoured were Cecile Prinsloo, who received a long service award, Chandré Smook, who was selected as a judge for the Region 5 Competition in Namibia, and Kim Lategan, who earned selection for the WAG FIG Tashkent Competition 2025.

A legacy built over 47 years

Cecile, founder of the club, said her gymnastics journey began in 1978 when she started coaching at Alberton High School with only four children.

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The club has since evolved into Legacy Gymnastics Club, with former gymnasts Robyn-Lynn Posthums, Chandré, and Kim now helping lead the next generation. Full story on albertonrecord.co.za

♬ original sound – Alberton Record

“I started the club 47 years ago in Alberton. It was named Alberton Gymnastics Club at that stage,” she explained.

The club has since evolved into Legacy Gymnastics Club, with former gymnasts Robyn-Lynn Posthums, Chandré, and Kim now helping lead the next generation.

“They decided to name the club Alberton Gymnastics Legacy after my legacy,” said Prinsloo.

She said the club’s success has been built on discipline, passion and consistency.

“Last year, we won 24 medals at nationals. The year before, we won even more. It’s a question of very hard work and being very disciplined.”

Prinsloo added that although she is stepping back slightly, she remains involved in coaching.
“I trust them fully to carry my legacy forward,” she said.

Recognition for years of dedication

Receiving the long service award was especially meaningful for Prinsloo, who has spent decades developing gymnasts and taking teams overseas for international exposure.

“We’ve been all over the world,” she said.

The club has participated in gymnastradas in Sweden and Germany, trained in the United Kingdom and competed in Dubai.

She said one of her proudest achievements has been coaching gymnasts who progressed to the elite level.

She highlighted coaching her granddaughter, Louise, and former gymnast Nikki, who now trains with Olympic coach Ilze Pelser at the Johannesburg Gymnastics Centre.

“There are a lot of our gymnasts at JGC. When we see they’ve got loads of talent, we send them over,” she said.

Gymnastics has evolved over the years

Having spent decades in the sport, Prinsloo said gymnastics has changed significantly.

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Legacy Gymnastics Club in Alberton is celebrating major recognition after coaches and judges earned honours at the 2025 Ekurhuleni District Prize Giving, including international judging appointments and a long service award for founder Cecile Prinsloo. Full story on albertonrecord.co.za

♬ original sound – Alberton Record

“The techniques changed. The politics changed. The safeguarding changed,” she said.

She explained that coaches now require safeguarding and first aid certifications before they are allowed to coach.

“The difficulty has changed a lot, but it makes for better gymnastics,” she added.

Despite the changes, her love for the sport remains strong.

“Passion. There’s no other word. It’s the love of the sport,” said Prinsloo.

She believes gymnastics teaches discipline and helps shape children into confident adults.

“We don’t realise how much influence we’ve got on children until you get so many children that go through your hands,” she said.

Judges earning international opportunities

Smook, who has been involved in gymnastics most of her life, said she competed for 12 years before moving into coaching and judging.

Her judging journey began at the age of 16.

“I started judging tumbling first of all,” she said.

She currently holds a Level 4 Brevet judging qualification and said being selected for the Region 5 Competition in Namibia was a valuable experience.

“It was a very good opportunity for me to see what the other countries are doing and what their standard of gymnastics is,” she explained.

She said one of the biggest challenges facing gymnastics officials in South Africa is funding.

“Gymnastics is not such a well-known sport in South Africa, so we don’t get as much funding,” said Smook.

To prepare for major events, she studies scoring deductions extensively and practises by judging routines shown in YouTube videos.

“I want to give the fairest score for each and every gymnast because they worked very hard to get there,” she said.

FIG selection opens doors for Kim Lategan

Lategan, who has also been involved in gymnastics since childhood, described earning a FIG-level judging appointment as one of the highest achievements in judging.

@albertonrecord

For nearly five decades, Legacy Gymnastics Club, previously known as Alberton Gymnastics Club, has shaped young gymnasts, produced national medalists and built a reputation respected across South Africa. Full story on albertonrecord.co.za

♬ original sound – Alberton Record

“It’s the highest qualification a judge can be,” she said.

She began judging in 2011 and said the journey required years of study and sacrifice.

“It takes a lot of time, a lot of studying and a lot of sacrifices,” she explained.

Kim said FIG competitions operate at a much stricter international standard compared to local competitions.

“The whole world follows that manual,” she said.

She recently revealed she has also been selected to travel to Slovenia for the 20th FIG Artistic World Cup Challenge Cup.

“There are three South African gymnasts also going, so I am very proud of them,” she said.

Kim added that international appointments help judges build experience that could eventually lead to opportunities at events such as the Olympics or Commonwealth Games.

Building the future of gymnastics

Posthums, another former gymnast turned coach and co-owner, said the international exposure earned by Legacy’s officials benefits both the club and its athletes.

“It’s very important for us to learn and get out there and keep up with the difficulty,” she said.

She described Legacy as one of the top gymnastics clubs in the district.

“We always have over 50 level one to three gymnasts competing every year for Ekurhuleni,” she said.
She added that the club consistently performs well at Gauteng championships and continues to earn medals nationally.

Prinsloo believes the club’s greatest success lies not only in medals, but in the people it develops.

“I’m proud that I could build a club that’s got a good name and that the whole country knows us. And that all the kids that go through our hands become good adults. That is so important,” she said.

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