When 14-year-old Addison Fenner heard her name called at the South African National Championships, she could hardly believe it.

After months of training, moments of self-doubt and a competition that had left her feeling nervous, the learner had secured bronze overall in her age group – and gold on the balance beam. For the Grade 8 learner at Northside College Northcliff, the moment was a reminder that the hours spent in the gym can pay off, even when the results do not always go as planned. “I was not expecting to win a medal, so it was a big surprise when they called my name,” she said. “When I was standing on the podium, thinking of all the sometimes long and exhausting training sessions and self-doubt, I realised it had all paid off. I felt ecstatic.”

Addison competed in the level 7, 14-years-and-older category at the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics National Championships, held at the National Training Centre in Centurion from September 24 to 27. Her competition took place on September 24, where she competed against 56 other gymnasts in her age group. The step up to level 7 brought new challenges. Unlike level 6, the scoring now takes both the difficulty of the skills performed and their execution into account.

Read more: Newlands Golden Lions Gymnastics Club is getting smoked out

After her results at the district and provincial competitions in August fell short of her expectations, Addison admitted that she was nervous heading into the national championships. However, a score of 12 for her beam routine gave her a boost. She went on to win gold on the apparatus, which she describes as one of her most challenging, alongside vault. Despite the pressure, she found the national competition an amazing experience, particularly because of the encouragement among the competitors. “The girls are so supportive of each other,” she said.

Addison’s gymnastics journey began at six years old, after a friend joined a gymnastics club and inspired her to give the sport a try. Her mother signed her up for a trial lesson, and eight years later, she is still committed to the sport.

She trains at Junxion Gymnastics Club in Fourways four days a week, spending three hours at each session. Her training begins with 15 minutes of strength and injury-prevention exercises, followed by flexibility work. She then spends about two hours working on the different apparatus before finishing with 30 minutes of heavier strength exercises, including pull-ups, push-ups and squats.

Beam and vault challenge her most, while her favourite apparatuses are bars and floor, where she feels she can express her passion for gymnastics. The physical demands are only part of the challenge. Addison said mental blocks are among the biggest obstacles she faces, and overcoming them requires reassurance and positive encouragement from her coaches.

She has also learnt to manage the demands of school alongside her sporting commitments. Homework is mostly done over weekends, with some schoolwork completed after training during the week. A monthly schedule helps her keep track of assignments and stay organised.

Her dedication has earned her Central Gauteng colours for the fourth time. Although the recognition is no longer new, it remains deeply meaningful. “Each time I have competed, I still feel an overwhelming surge of pride for putting myself out there knowing anything could happen,” she said.

For Addison, representing Central Gauteng at national level brings a sense of responsibility that goes beyond her own performance. She draws inspiration from South African Olympic team gymnasts Caitlin Rooskrantz, Zelme Daries and Naveen Daries, while her mother remains her biggest supporter, ensuring she gets to training and cheering her on. She also credits her coaches at Junxion Gymnastics Club – Nikki Stubbs, Tess Golden, Tamsin Schrimpton and Gareth Stubbs – for their guidance and for keeping her accountable.

Also read: Olympic gymnast graduates from UJ

Her next goal is to compete overseas next year while building the mental confidence to learn and perfect new, more difficult skills. For other young gymnasts who feel overwhelmed by training or nervous about competition, Addison has advice that reflects the lessons she has learnt along the way. Rather than focusing on winning the next competition, she encourages gymnasts to concentrate on the session in front of them and celebrate the small victories. If a competition goes badly, she suggests looking at the experience like a scientist: asking what it has taught them and what they might need to adjust, instead of viewing it simply as failure. “Remember that you are there because you enjoy the sport and have fun doing it,” she said.

For Addison, national bronze and beam gold are milestones worth celebrating – but the real achievement lies in continuing to learn, pushing through self-doubt and finding joy in the sport that first captured her imagination eight years ago.

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates!