Plett gymnast jetting off to African champs
PLETTENBERG BAY - Local gymnastics star Leolin Petersen has done it again. She was selected to represent South Africa 2024 African Trampoline Championships in Bizerte, Tunisia next month.
On top of that the 17-year-old, who comes from Plettenberg Bay, also qualified to participate at the Coimbra Trampoline World Cup in Portugal in July this year.
Her mother, Helen Bezuidenhout, who is a long-time resident of Plettenberg Bay, said she is incredibly proud of her last-born for not only her achievements, but also the hard work and sacrifices she makes to climb the ladder to success.
One of these sacrifices Leolin has made is moving to Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape to be closer to her coaches at Mandy’s School of Tumbling and Trampoline.
Leolin will make her way to Tunisia next month where she will be participating in the 18th African Trampoline Championships from 10 to 11 May at the Fatnassi multi-sport hall. In July, she will make her way to Portugal for the Coimbra Trampoline World Cup at the Pavilhão Multidesportos Mário Mexia on 6 and 7 July.
This comes after she was recently crowned as the the senior female trampolinist of the year at Gymnastics South Africa's annual award ceremony. It was held at the Matsport Centre in Centurion, Gauteng on 23 March and is an annual event to celebrate gymnasts who have excelled in their disciplines during the previous year.
This was preceded by winning triple gold at the Trampoline Gymnastics SA Cup 2024 at the Fairview Sport Centre in Gqeberha recently. She put on a great performance, securing first place in L9 Tumbling, L10 Euro trampoline and L11 double mini trampoline.
Last year she also made it into the South African team at the Gymnastics Federation (FIG) World Championship in the UK, one of the most prestigious events in gymnastics. It was held in Birmingham in November and Leolin not only competed in the junior category, but was also as part of the senior South African team.