Gymnasts learn from African Champs test

Rhythmic gymnastics
Mariud Ngula
  • 13 Hours Ago

Namibian rhythmic gymnasts recently gained valuable experience at the African Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships at the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria, South Africa.

The senior and junior contingent of seven gymnasts showcased their routines across the hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon apparatus.

They faced top competition from hosts South Africa, as well as Algeria, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Madagascar, Morocco, Togo, Tunisia and Zimbabwe.

The senior team comprised Emilia Ekandjo, Kayla Duchaine and Joy Kabooy, who finished fifth overall in the team competition.

Ekandjo placed 12th after three routines, with Duchaine finishing 13th after three routines and Kabooy 16th after two routines. Organisers confirmed that each nation’s team was allowed only eight routines.

In the junior division, April Hamutele, Jana Risser, Gabriella Mouton and Meggi Shiweda also placed fifth overall in the team competition.

Shiweda led the Namibian charge in 16th place, followed by Mouton in 17th, Hamutele in 18th and Risser in 19th out of 25 competing juniors.


Valuable learning experience

The Namibian athletes were accompanied by head of delegation and Brevet judge Britt Adonis-Byl, coach and Brevet judge Wietsa Snyman, and coach Eleonora Karamfilova.

Adonis-Byl said the event was a valuable learning experience for the Namibian gymnasts, giving them exposure to competition against other African countries.

“It gave us the opportunity to assess our weaknesses and formulate a strategic plan for better performances in future. Our biggest challenge was once again very evident – the lack of international exposure and training opportunities abroad,” she said.

Adonis-Byl said one of the highlights was seeing Namibian gymnasts form friendships with athletes from across the continent.

“Even more so was witnessing our own team members bonding with each other and representing our country with pride,” she said.

As a Brevet judge officiating at one of the continent’s biggest stages in the sport, Adonis-Byl said she valued the judging experience and the opportunity to work alongside African judges, as well as neutral judges from as far as Korea.

“[It was] a prestigious event, as this was essentially three events rolled into one, namely the Junior African Championships, Senior African Championships and the Oceania Continental Championships,” she said.


‘Our biggest challenge’

Karamfilova said Namibia was recognised by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) president Morinari Watanabe after the event for its progress in developing world-class gymnasts.

“However, we still lack proper facilities in the capital that meet international standards. We practise in limited facilities, on a four-by-six-metre mat, while the international competition carpet is [13 by 13 metres]. This is one of our biggest challenges,” she said.

Namibia is set to host next year’s African Championships.

– mariud@nsh.com.na