Gymnasts prepare for world champs
Girls of the Nelspruit Gymnastics Academy (NGA) are hard at work in preparation for the 2016 USAIG/IAIGC World Championships.
Their fitness and dedication spiced with refined talent caught the attention of international scouts. That is why NGA was included as one of 12 gymnastics schools from South Africa to represent the country in June 2016. Standards at this international event are very competitive and the gymnasts have to adhere to strict selection criteria. This will be the only club from Mpumalanga going to Orlando, Florida.
The NGA head coach and owner, Maré Putter, recently held a primary trial at her gymnasium to select and prepare gymnasts for the championships. Four candidates proved to have the metal. Arilyn Dawson, Larise Combrink, Larusha Scheepers and Shené Coetzee are filled with excitement at the prospect this chance holds for them. These four girls have taken on the challenge and will each have to raise R40 000 to cover their competition and travel expenses. Gymnasts will have a second chance to try out for the competition early next year, giving more the opportunity to shine.
The first official USAIG/IAIGC trials will be in April 2016. Troupes of gymnasts from USA and the UK will fly in to compete in Gauteng. Seven countries form the IAIGC gymnastics alliance, namely Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, Romania, South Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America. The progressive competitive programme with an inclusive approach aims to develop well-balanced Olympic candidates of the future.
The local gymnasts will miss the opportunity of a lifetime unless funds can be appropriated for them and their coaches by means of donations. Anyone interested in assisting with fund-raising initiatives can contact Putter at mare@nelspruitgimnastiekakademie.co.za or their partner in this campaign, NPO Mpumalanga Gymnastic Development at mpugymdev@hotmail.com. Chairman of the Mpumalanga Gymnastics Association, Percy Mbokane can be reached telephonically on 078-882-9639.
