Young Gauteng gymnast shines at national championships in Cape Town

Dedication, hard work and perseverance have paid off for Amogelang Seakamela, who brought home gold and bronze medals from the 2026 Gymnastics South Africa National Championships in Cape Town.

The Gracelings Rhythmic Gymnastics Club member was crowned national gold medallist in the ribbon routine and secured third place overall in the U11 Level 6 rhythmic gymnastics category.

Seakamela represented Gauteng at the championships, held on September 27, where gymnasts competed in three routines: rope, ribbon and free dance.

She finished fifth in free dance, fourth in rope and first in ribbon, earning her an overall bronze medal in her age group.

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“I felt surprised after they announced my name and, in my mind, I was screaming and shouting in excitement,” she said.

“Of the three routines I performed, free dance was my favourite because I always win gold with free dance.”

The national achievement follows another milestone in August, when Seakamela was crowned the 2026 Gauteng Level 6 U11 Rhythmic Gymnastics Champion while representing the Ekurhuleni District. Her provincial victory secured her place at the national championships.

Preparing for competitions requires considerable commitment, with Seakamela training three to four times a week.

“I prepare for the competition by warming up my body, then I practise until every bit and second of my routines are 110% perfect.

Practice sessions are two hours, sometimes three hours or two hours and 30 minutes, three to four times every week,” she said.

“Representing Gauteng and Ekurhuleni at a national competition was like being a world champion at the Olympics winning gold.”
Seakamela’s love for gymnastics started at a young age. She recalls practising the splits at home almost every day before her family helped her find the Gracelings Rhythmic Gymnastics Club.

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She has been involved in rhythmic gymnastics since the age of five and credits her coach, Laverne Swanepoel, for helping her develop her skills and progress through the different levels of the sport.

Earlier this year, Ekurhuleni District also honoured her for her outstanding performances in the 2025 Level 5 U10 category at various competitions.

Seakamela said winning the Gauteng championship showed her that her hard work was beginning to pay off. However, she admitted that mastering her routines had not always been easy.

Her biggest challenge was practice, particularly when she struggled to get certain movements right.

“I would cry and beat myself up sometimes because I would not get something right, but I learnt that it is OK to be mad or frustrated with myself and must just breathe,” she said.

Her coach has played an important role in helping her overcome these challenges.

Seakamela said Swanepoel guided her step by step, teaching her to perform movements carefully and correctly until they became natural.

Her parents, Onthatile and Lerato Seakamela, said they had mixed emotions when they learnt of their daughter’s national success.

Her father attended the competition and kept the rest of the family updated, as her mother and siblings were unable to be there.
Onthatile described his daughter as a perfectionist who is committed to everything she takes on.

“Amo is a perfectionist at heart. She wants to be perfectly spot on with all that she does. The minute things go wrong, she bursts into tears. Now this sport has made her stronger, emotionally to be specific,” he said.

He added that she had grown in her ability to handle frustration and communicate her feelings.

Lerato said the Ekurhuleni award of honour earlier this year had also come as a surprise, making it an especially proud moment for the family.

“Amogelang has real passion for this sport. She watches tons and tons of performances around the globe and plays them over and over again while she is always in her routines mode when in the house,” she said.

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She added that the family continues to support Amogelang through training, competitions and encouragement.

With her sights set on the future, Seakamela hopes to make her family proud, including herself, and one day compete at the World Championships or the Olympic Games.

Her family hopes she will also attract sponsorship to help with competition costs, gymnastics apparatus and equipment as she continues pursuing her ambitions.