Off to the UK
PLETTENBERG BAY - Thanks to the backing of her community and supporters, Plettenberg Bay’s gymnastics star Leolin Petersen is going to Birmingham in the UK in November to represent South Africa at the Gymnastics Federation (FIG) World Championships.
"I cannot express my gratitude in words for everyone who has made her dream come true," said her mother, Helen Bezuidenhout. "Everyone came together and all the costs to get her there have been covered. I am in awe." The Plettenberg Bay Primary alumnus from New Horizons had to raise a whopping R80 000 to cover costs of the flights, accommodation, transport, meals, competition entry, travel insurance and her gymnastics kit.
Her family, friends and the community however decided that a lack of funds was not going to keep her from participating and jumped in with various fundraising initiatives including food sales, sponsorships and crowd funding. This is a prestigious international competition and will also serve as a qualifying event for the 2024 Olympic Games and the 2025 World Games. For Leolin, this is one step closer to achieving her ultimate dream of participating at the 2024 Olympics.
Leolin was not only included in the South African team in her age group but also in the senior team. She is one of eight gymnasts from Mandy's School of Tumbling and Trampoline who, under the watchful eyes of renowned gymnastics coaches Mandy Zoonekynd and Lee Budler, qualified for the world championships. Leolin is currently living in Gqeberha and attending Framesby High School to be closer to coaches. On Saturday a dinner will be held in her hometown to raise funds for her pocket money for her time in England. Tickets are already sold out – testament to the support she has been receiving. Leolin has been doing her part as well and has been raking in medals and awards for gymnastics in recent months, showing she is ready for the world stage after becoming national champion in four different gymnastics disciplines last week.
The 17-year-old recently participated at the annual Gymnastics South National Championships, the Gym Games, in Gauteng. She gave a stellar performance that managed to secure her gold medals in Euro trampoline, tumbling and synchro in the category for 17- to 21-yearolds, as well as gold in in double-mini trampoline in the senior division. This came after Leolin participated at the Eastern Province trampoline and tumbling trials in Gqeberha and managed to secure three gold medals in her age group - for tumbling, double mini and Euro trampoline. She recently won gold in not only double-mini trampoline, but also Euro trampoline at the final leg of the Madiba Cup held in Mossel Bay.
She also won three gold medals for her performance in senior women's double-mini trampoline, junior women's trampoline, and junior women's power tumbling during the second leg of the series in Cape Town.