Armand Koekemoer has described being named Gymnastics South Africa’s acrobatic gymnastics coach of the year at the federation’s annual awards on July 25 as a tremendous honour.

The accolade follows an outstanding season in which Koekemoer guided Kenneth Hart and Anchè Davidson to a clean sweep of the balance, dynamic and combined events at the Acrobatic Gymnastics National Championships in October.

He is now preparing the pair for their debut at the 30th FIG Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships in Italy next month.

“This recognition is a reflection of the dedication and hard work of not only myself, but also the athletes, parents and support team who have been part of this journey,” he said.

“The greatest lesson I have learned is that you are never too experienced or too old to learn something new. Continuous learning and personal growth are essential to becoming a better coach.”

Koekemoer believes his greatest strength as a coach lies in recognising that every athlete is different. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, he adapts his methods to suit each gymnast’s individual strengths, challenges and learning style.

“Every gymnast has unique strengths, challenges and learning styles, and it is my responsibility as a coach to find the best approach for each individual,” he said.

“By adapting my coaching methods while maintaining high standards, I aim to help every athlete reach their full potential both in the gym and in life.”

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With the world championships drawing closer, Koekemoer is encouraged by the progress Hart and Davidson have made as both athletes and partners.

“This season, I have seen remarkable progress in both their technical performance and the difficulty of their routines,” he said.

“Beyond their physical development, they have grown significantly as a partnership, learning to understand and complement each other’s personalities, strengths and working styles. Their commitment, trust and determination give me great confidence that they can perform successfully on the world stage.”

He said their preparations have focused on reinforcing the importance of teamwork, communication and trust.

“Our main focus has been helping them understand that success comes from performing as one team rather than as two individual gymnasts. Building trust, communication and consistency has been just as important as refining their technical skills.

“We have also worked on ensuring they are physically prepared through structured training while developing the mental resilience and confidence needed to perform under pressure.”

Looking beyond Italy, Koekemoer believes South Africa has an abundance of gymnastics talent capable of competing with the world’s best, provided the sport continues to receive greater exposure and support.

“We also need ongoing commitment and dedication from athletes, coaches and parents. A united effort to support the sport at all levels will help create more opportunities and enable South African gymnasts to compete consistently with the world’s leading nations.”

As for the legacy he hopes to leave, Koekemoer said medals and titles are only part of the picture.

“I want to be remembered not only for developing successful athletes but also confident and resilient individuals who strive for excellence both on and off the competition floor.

“My advice to young coaches is to never stop learning and always look for ways to improve your knowledge and coaching abilities. To aspiring gymnasts, I would say never give up, no matter how difficult the journey becomes. Hard work, perseverance and passion will always be rewarded.”

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