Home educated gymnastics champions won gold and other medals for various disciplines at the national championships in 2013.
Three homeschooled gymnastics from the Helderberg Gymnastics Connection in the Strand participated in the SA Gym Games 2013 hosted by the South African Gymnastics Federation in Pretoria during the September school holidays and all three won gold medals, making them national champions in their respective disciplines.
Shanae Bingham won the gold medals for floor and vault as well as the silver medal for beam in level 4 Women’s Artistic Gymnastics age 10 and under and succeeded in winning the gold medal overall.
Kayleigh Erwee won the gold medal for Tumbling, in the girls 11 years category, and ranked 9th for Double Mini Trampoline in her age group.
Lucille Erwee won the gold medal for Blacktop trampoline, Girls Senior Elite. She won the bronze medal for uneven bars in level 6 Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (age 18 and under) competition and finished in 3rd place overall. She also won the bronze medal for Double Mini Trampoline level 3, age 15 and over and finished 7th for Tumbling in her age group.
From the Western Province, Tammy du Plessis competed in the under 14 Level 4 Category.
This is her story:
“Our youngest daughter, Tammy, is in her 7th year of home schooling. Tammy was unable to start gymnastics because of a curvature of the spine. After some years the curvature has improved and she was able to start the sport she loved so much in 2009.
At the Western Province Trials she won the silver medal overall.
At the Western Cape Trials – bronze medal overall.
At the National Championships held in Pretoria in September 2013, Tammy won silver on Bar, gold on Beam and bronze overall.
She also received a club trophy from her Club ACS in Monte Vista for the most consistent outstanding achievement through the year.”
Submitted by Wendy du Plessis
An acrobatic gymnast from Malmesbury Akro-klub, Marno Crafford also won 3 medals for the events in which he participated at the SA Gym Games in 2013:
Stages Level 8 – gold
Mens 4 level 6 – gold
Mixed pairs level 8 – bronze
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