HILTON’S GYMNASTICS STAR
Hilton rhythmic gymnast, Crystal Viljoen, is making strides in the world of rhythmic gymnastics. The rising star, who was crowned Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and South African champion in her age divisions, has been a multiple-medalist across all disciplines since she started competing in this graceful sport.
Rhythmic gymnastics combines ballet, dance, body difficulty, apparatus handling and execution, with expressive movement and the manipulation of a ball, club, hoop, ribbon and rope.
It is a sport that requires hours and hours of dedicated practice, yet it does not get the exposure that it deserves. Each routine is a minute and a half long.
Crystal, who was born in Pretoria, started rhythmic gymnastics at the tender age of five. She represented Gauteng and was awarded senior provincial colours.
In 2017, her family relocated to Hilton and Crystal enrolled at Laddsworth Primary School where she continued her rhythmic gymnastics. Last year, she joined Epworth School.
In 2019, Crystal represented KZN at the level 10, under 15 division and emerged as the provincial and South African champion. She was awarded gold for ball, ribbon and clubs.
In December of the same year, Crystal travelled to Dubai to compete against gymnasts from Egypt, Singapore, Russia and others in the DuGymCup. Despite the stiff competition, she was awarded a silver for her ball routine and was placed fourth overall.
Crystal was also a member of the KZN Rhythmic Gymnastics team that performed at the World Gymnastrada held in Dornbirn, Austria, in 2019.
At the recent KZN championships in Durban, she achieved two first places and two second places and finished second overall. She was selected to represent the
KZN Gymnastics Union at the SA Gymnastic Games, which was held from September 30 to October 4, at the University of Pretoria.
She competed at senior Olympic level against the likes of Kayla Rondi (2022 Commonwealth Games finalist) and Yulia Galukhin (All Africa Champs bronze medalist) and gymnasts that train overseas. As the youngest of all the competitors, she performed exceptionally well and is looking forward to improving her national ranking.
The multi-talented teenager started ballet in 2014 and danced in professional productions of Art of Motion in Black Diamond, Kaleidoscope and Rumpelstiltskin. When she was just nine years old, she was part of the dance troupe for the Sleeping Beauty pantomime, directed by Janice Honeyman.
She also performed at the production of Swan Lake at Hilton College under the direction of Julia Powell and had the opportunity to dance at the Experidance held at Epworth.
Crystal’s mum, Sonja Viljoen, is extremely proud of her daughter’s achievements.
“She has an incredible work ethic and displays such great sportsmanship. It was also a massive achievement for her to share the carpet with Kayla Rondi, Yulia Galukhin and Stephanie Dimitrova,” said her mum. “Performing at this level is also a family commitment. We have very little holiday time and have given up a lot in order for her to chase her dream."
Crystal trains four to five times a week and is coached by Robyn Mueller, the chairperson of Rhythmic Gymnastics South Africa (RGSA) and owner of Ocean Rhythmic Gymnastics Club, as well as by Kayleigh Slaughter.
She lives by the motto that there is no such thing as a bad training session as you always learn something. With this attitude, she is destined for more honours and achievements in this incredible sport.