Medals galore at All Africa Games

Only a few days after returning home from the All Africa Games, Dominique Mann was already off to an extreme photo shoot with her sponsor Mr Price Sport.

Sitting on her bed in Ballito, enjoying a homemade cup of tea, she was already focused on the next challenge ahead.

“You have got to keep working for that goal everyday,” said Mann.

The aerobic gymnast is living proof that a hard work pays off after winning four medals in Brazzaville, Congo at the 11th All Africa Games.

A silver for her individual performance, silver for mixed pairs, gold in the trio category and gold for overall team performance.

The trio team consists of Mann and two strong male partners, Wilson Mafona and Terence Ledwaba.

“The trio was our main focus so winning that gold plus the gold for the team was a very special moment.”

Mann is quick to admit that she was a bit disappointed with her silver in the individual category.

“Even though it is not my main event, I have no one to blame but myself so I was upset when I placed second,” she said confidently, with a glimpse of determination in her eyes.

When it came down to the competition, Mann said it was always a battle between SA and Algeria, who had the advantage of training in Europe.

“I was lucky to qualify for the finals, but I worked hard for that.”

Gymnasts are scarily competitive and Mann said it this is because they are all perfectionists.

“If you were wearing a South African tracksuit you were my friend, otherwise I will not talk to you!”

Besides her competitive nature, Mann is an intense ball of energy that never stops.

“I will push my body and mind to its limits until I have achieved my goal.”

She holds on to the one lesson that the sport has taught her, and that is you have to keep working to reach your goals.

“Your dream might just be around the corner, but you will not know that unless you stick with it until you have it in your hands.”

For now, she will enjoy a luxurious seven days off, spending time with friends and family before heading back to Pretoria to train for national trials.

“It will be a hard month and a half of training ahead, because there is always new, younger talent coming up out of the ranks.”

Mann said she was not born with an endless amount of natural talent, but that her success later in her career was a result of the hard work she had to put in to prove to herself and everyone else that she could do it.

She has proven this over and over again, but Mann still wants to see aerobic gymnastics go to the Olympic Games.

“Aerobic gymnastics will represent at the next Commonwealth Games which is great news, so we are hoping it will be in the next Olympic Games after that.”

“Everyone wants to compete in an Olympic sport,” said Mann, her eyes flashing with that bright, golden sparkle of determination once again.