Dumped gymnast battles mother body

● A top rhythmic gymnast is taking the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) to court on Thursday in a lastditch bid to get to the Commonwealth Games.

Shannon Gardiner — who says she’s a medal hope because she’s ranked third in the Commonwealth — has named Sascoc president Gideon Sam and the SA Gymnastics Federation (SAGF) as respondents.

Grace Legote and Chris-Marie van Wyk were named as SA’s rhythmic gymnasts recently, but Gardiner, a B.Com student, says in papers before the Pretoria High Court she has the best Commonwealth ranking.

SAGF CEO Tseko Mogotsi told the Sunday Times Gardiner was second on their rankings, adding the SAGF wanted three rhythmic gymnasts at the April 4-15 Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

SA, however, has already used up its 99 spots for individual sports.

Gardiner says the SAGF gave four names to Sascoc, which then chose the two incumbents, The SAGF appealed, but Sascoc stuck to its decision.

Gardiner argues she fulfilled the simple Games qualification requirement that athletes be ranked in the top 10 in the Commonwealth before December 15, 2017.

Asked to explain the omission, Sascoc’s acting CEO Patience Shikwambana raised new criteria, telling SAGF that Gardiner had not competed at the world championships — she was injured at the trials — and that she was sixth at the national championships.

“Sascoc makes no mention of the Commonwealth ranking,” Gardiner says in her founding affidavit. “This is irrational . . . Sascoc’s decision was arbitrary and bore no rational connection to the purpose of selecting SA’s best athletes.”

She alleges in court papers that Sascoc also misled her about the deadlines for the submission of Games athletes.

“Sascoc knew from March 5 that I would be seeking urgent relief . . . to enable me to compete at the Commonwealth Games.”

Gardiner had initially planned to go to court on March 20. “[Sascoc] knew that this date would be after the [final March 19] deadline for the submission of the names of competing athletes.”

Shikwambana said Sascoc would defend the action. “We’ll follow due process.”