WATCH: Florida Hills gymnast wows South Africa with her Olympic routine

For every athlete who qualified to compete at the 2020 Olympic Games, 23 July would have been the day their dreams of bringing back a medal for their country was to be realised.

Instead, the Games as well as most of our plans for 2020 have been disrupted and postponed.

On Sunday, 2 August, Caitlin Rooskrantz was due to take to the bars as the first artistic gymnast to represent South Africa at the Olympics in 15 years. So in honour of the years of hard work and preparation that have gone into getting Olympic-ready, and in pursuit of some good news and real heroes we can all get behind, Sanlam gave her the opportunity to make some new plans, by live-streaming her medal-worthy routine.

“Caitlin is an extraordinary athlete and an inspiring example for us all. Her unwavering commitment and positive attitude are infectious and so beautifully reflect our ethos at Sanlam of building resilience and staying the course, even when faced with setbacks and unforeseen disruptions,” said Sanlam’s Head of Brand, Mariska Oosthuizen.

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 find ourselves in now.

As she took one final deep breath and bravely stepped up to the mat, one could cut the tension with a knife. Then, flinging herself from one bar to the next in a near-perfect routine that culminated with a perfect landing, the smile that spread across Caitlin’s face quickly spread across the nation’s too.

And while 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.

To watch Caitlin’s routine and relive the moment, click here.

Having trained Caitlin since she first took an interest in gymnastics at the age of six, it was only fitting that Ilse Pelser would be right beside her as the nation watched her step up to the bars. “I am so proud of Caitlin’s routine. Years and years of hard work is paying off. It was fantastic being out there with her, to see her do one of the best routines of her life,” she said.

Watching from the sidelines, Caitlin’s mother Veda is not only her fiercest supporter, but her greatest inspiration too. Having single-handedly raised and supported her two children 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 exceeded our every expectation!”

Reflecting on her performance 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 three 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.”

See some of the reactions on social media here: