Pretoria hosted another international sporting event last week when the 17th African Artistic Gymnastics Championships were presented at Heartfelt Arena in Centurion.

The level of competition in the continental showpiece event on the annual gymnastics calendar was extremely high, as gymnasts from five nations did battle in the women’s artistic competition.

The battle between north and south was clearly in evidence, as continental powerhouses Egypt and host nation South Africa went head-to-head.

Caitlin Rooskrantz, South Africa’s main medal hope and defending champion from Egypt last year, had an excellent clean competition, ending second overall, but the star of the evening was Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour, who trains in France and was not available to compete last year in Egypt.

Egypt’s Jana Abdelsalam was the recipient of the bronze medal.

However, it was team South Africa who were the big winners on the evening, maintaining their early lead throughout a virtually faultless competition to take the team gold.

By virtue of having won this much sought-after team competition, South Africa’s women have now qualified automatically for World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, later this year, while Egypt and Algeria, the silver and bronze medallists respectively, will be able to send individual gymnasts to the event as well.

SA head coach, Ilse Pelser, was excited by her gymnasts’ showing.

“It’s a massive relief; the girls did their job to perfection. The goal was for three of our four gymnasts to go clean on each apparatus, and they did that. It’s always nice after the event,” Pelser remarked after the competition.

According to Pelser, it was an historic night for South African gymnastics as it was the countries first team victory in the women’s artistic team competition since 2006.

The men’s team competition, which also carried the added bonus for the winners of automatic qualifying for the World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, later this year, was fought out between powerhouses Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and a three-man South African team comprising Muhammad-Khaalid Mia, Aidan Maguire and Ruan Lange.

In the end, it was the team from Egypt who reigned supreme on the night, beating off  challenges from Algeria and Morocco to book their place in Antwerp. The Egyptians were in a class of their own, winning the team competition by over 11 points, as they dominated throughout and had a very clean competition.

Gymnastics South Africa President, Donny Jurgens, expressed his delight at the standard of competition and especially at the terrific support that the event received over the two days.

“It was an honour to host this competition and the spirit shown by all competitors, even the less traditional gymnastics nations who sent athletes to compete, was a joy to behold. We congratulate all winners and wish all teams, officials and delegates from other countries safe onward travels until we meet again”, said Jurgens.

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