HOEDSPRUIT – Hoedspruit Gymnastics Centre (HGC) is celebrating a significant achievement just months after opening its doors, with three young gymnasts selected to represent Limpopo at the national gymnastics championships in Pretoria.

Hoedspruit’s team in Pretoria

The championships ran from September 24 to October 4, with Larissa Pienaar, Riley Jansen and Logan Rainier competing against gymnasts from across the country.

Pienaar, 11, competed in level 4, while eight-year-old Jansen participated in class 1 high performance. Rainier, 12, represented Limpopo in the men’s 1st division.

For HGC, the selection marks an exciting milestone and highlights the talent developing within the Hoedspruit community.

‘Dedication, hard work and passion’

Corne Havenga of HGC said the centre was incredibly proud of the three young athletes and their achievement.

Larissa, Riley and Logan have shown tremendous dedication, hard work and passion for gymnastics, and we are extremely proud of how far they have come in such a short time.

“For HGC, this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the growing talent in Hoedspruit and to inspire more young people to get involved in gymnastics,” said Havenga.

Making their mark nationally

Riley competed in the highly competitive high-performance class 1 category for eight-year-olds. Representing Limpopo, she finished ninth overall on the bar, sixth on the beam and ninth on the floor. Her consistent results saw her finish seventh overall in the country.

“To finish seventh in South Africa in such a competitive category is a wonderful accomplishment, especially at just eight years old,” said Havenga.

More than the scores

Havenga said the championships were about more than the final rankings, highlighting the experience gained by the young athletes throughout the competition.

“It was inspiring to see the children supporting one another, enjoying themselves and being part of such a special event. The smiles, camaraderie and determination we saw are just as important as the scores,” she said.

Guided by coach Mzikisi Sitali

The three athletes trained under the guidance of coach Mzikisi Sitali, developing their technical abilities, strength and confidence in preparation for the national competition.

The programme aims to develop not only technical gymnastics skills, but also confidence, discipline, perseverance and a genuine love for the sport.

Their selection is particularly significant for HGC as it continues its mission of nurturing young talent and promoting gymnastics in Hoedspruit and surrounding communities.

To register your children, send an email to hoedspruitgymnastics@gmail.com.