Nelspruit Gymnastics Academy (NGA) had no fewer than 14 representatives at this year’s SA Gym Games when nine of them returned home with a medal to their name and three emerged as national champions.

The SA Gym Games were held at the Western Cape Sport School in Kuils River from September 21 to 29, and NGA’s level 4-6 gymnasts took part. The 12 girls and two boys from NGA brought back a haul of medals, with no fewer than 27 hanging around the necks of the NGA gymnasts when they came home.

Various schools were also inadvertently represented by the 14 gymnasts. Curro Nelspruit, Laerskool Bergland, Laerskool Laeveld, Laerskool Nelspruit, Hoërskool Nelspruit and Penryn all had learners at the SA Gym Games under NGA’s banner. There were also a few home-schooled learners who took part.

Hannah Morgado, a Curro Nelspruit learner, was crowned the champion in level 4 (10 years) and won two gold apparatus medals on vault and bar, with an overall gold medal to boot. “We are extremely proud of her performance as the competition was also very tough in her section,” said coach Maré Putter.

Vanessa van Rensburg of Laerskool Bergland is the SA champion in level 4 (11 years). She won a medal on four of the apparatuses: gold on beam, silver on floor and vault, and bronze on bar, while taking the overall gold, too. In addition to this, she has also been chosen to represent South Africa in the Region 5 Gymnastics Competition in December.

Last but definitely not least, Servaas Prinsloo became a SA champion for the second time in as many years, repeating his success in level 4 (13 years) in 2023 by winning level 5 (14+) this year. He won medals on five of the six apparatuses: gold on the pommel horse, rings and high bar, silver on vault and bronze on parallel bars.

Xiluva Mhlanga (Laerskool Laeveld) was NGA’s youngest gymnast at the SA Gym Games this year. She took part in level 4 (7-9 years) and came second overall. She won a silver medal on bar and a bronze on vault. Naleah Wessels won SAs last year in level 4 (11 years) and this year came third overall in the level 5 (12 years) section, in which she won three apparatus medals: gold on bar, bronze on beam and floor.

Jeané Greeff (Laerskool Nelspruit) took part in the level 4 (12 years) category and came fifth overall, having also earned a silver medal on the beam. Mahreen Mussa (Curro Nelspruit) came sixth overall in the level 5 (14+) section with a silver medal on the floor and a bronze medal on the beam.

Lily Renaud (Curro Nelspruit) came ninth overall in the level 6 (12 years) category, winning gold on vault and bronze on beam after she had a fall on the floor. Ziyanda Sekwane (Curro Nelspruit) finished 28th overall in the level 4 (12 years), but received a bronze medal for her performance on the balance beam.

Adrianna Wright (Penryn) finished 10th out of 77 gymnasts in the level 5 (12 years) category with a top-five finish on the floor. Cionette Potgieter was 20th in the same category. Emmah Wiltshire (Curro Nelspruit) came 11th out of 98 gymnasts in the level 4 (11 years) category.

Teagan Pappas (Curro Nelspruit) came 21st out of 63 gymnasts in level 6 (14+), but had an unfortunate fall on the beam. “Teagan showed a lot of character by lifting her chin and we are very proud of her,” Putter said. Hugo Taljaard (NHS) finished 12th overall in the level 4 (14+) category.