South Africa, 03 August 2020: Yesterday morning, 18-year-old Caitlin Rooskrantz should
have been making history as SA’s first female artistic gymnast in 15 years to compete in the
Olympic Games. Yet thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, all plans were interrupted.
So on the same day she should have been competing in Tokyo, Sanlam gave Caitlin the
chance to make some new plans: by live streaming her medal-worthy routine.
“Caitlin is an extraordinary athlete and an inspiring example for us all,” said Sanlam’s Head
of Brand, Mariska Oosthuizen. “Her unwavering commitment and positive attitude is
infectious and so beautifully reflects our ethos at Sanlam of building resilience and staying
the course, even when faced with setbacks and unforeseen disruptions.”
Live streamed at 10am, thousands of South Africans from all walks of life and every corner of
the nation cheered Caitlin on from the other side of their screens as she performed her
Olympic routine.
Slowly approaching the bars, softly whispering under her breath as she walked, the
backdrop felt as unfamiliar and surreal as the circumstances we all now find ourselves in. As
she took one final deep breath and bravely stepped up to the mat, one could cut the tension
with a knife. Then flinging from one bar to the next in a near-perfect routine that culminated
with a 10/10 landing, the smile that spread across Caitlin’s face quickly spread across the
nation’s too. And whilst the lone applause of her coach echoed through the empty space, in
homes across SA, the cheers were resounding.
By midday, the hashtags #TheOlympian and #CaitlinRooskrantz were trending on social
media, and for a brief while at least, there was some good news we could all unite behind.
Sanlam’s, Mariska Oosthuizen was equally moved by the performance: “I was pretty
emotional watching it. 2020 has been a challenging year for most of us, with so many of our
plans put on pause or cancelled.
Caitlin is an inspiration to us all: she’s kept her eye on the prize, and instead of giving up, she’s never let setbacks get her down. This is something we
hope all South Africans will be encouraged by – to not give up on their dreams, but to use
these challenging times to make new plans.”
https://youtu.be/oQ-CTrV7SgU
“I am so proud of Caitlin’s routine,” said coach Ilse Pelser. Having trained Caitlin since she
first took an interest in gymnastics at the age of 6, it was only fitting that Ilse would be right
beside her as the nation watched her step up to the bars. “Years and years of hard work are
paying off,” Ilse continued, “It was fantastic being out there with her – to see her do one of
the best routines of her life.”
Watching from the side-lines, mom, Veda, is not only Caitlin’s fiercest supporter, but her
greatest inspiration too. Having single-handedly raised and supported her two kids after her
husband (and Caitlin’s father) passed away some 12 years ago, the live stream was a special
milestone for the family. “It wasn’t easy getting to this point, but it was so worth it.
Watching her today, and seeing her efforts celebrated across the country, I felt so proud of
how far she has come – it’s exceeded our every expectation!”
Reflecting on the live stream of her routine, and South Africa’s overwhelmingly positive
response to it, Caitlin expressed her elation and relief. “I’m over the moon. I was nervous
about it, but I gave it my best and I’m so proud of the end result – especially considering that
I’ve been in lockdown for over 3 months and have only been back training for a month. I’m
so grateful to Sanlam for this incredible opportunity, and I’m more motivated than ever. The
dream hasn’t changed, only the timeline.”
To watch Caitlin’s routine and relive the moment, visit: www.nowisthetimetoplan.co.za.
