PLETTENBERG BAY NEWSFLASH - Two young gymnasts are flying the Plettenberg Bay flag high as they compete in the South African National Championships in Pretoria this week.

Leolin Petersen, 11, and Carmen Swiegers, 16, started their competition journey on Tuesday 3 October and will compete until Saturday 7 October.

“They have been working hard all year and this competition is where they get to see the fruits of their labour,” Carmen’s mother Coba said on their way to the competition.

For both gymnasts this has been a long and challenging journey. Leolin started her gymnastics career at the tender age of three and have many titles under the belt.

Leolin has received her Western Cape colours in three disciplines – trampoline, tumbling and artistic – in August this year.

The sport is very costly and must be funded by gymnasts and their or parents themselves. Swiegers said the estimated expenditure for the year already amounted to about R27 500. This includes gym fees, competitions and traveling.

Participating at the national championships would set each gymnast back more than R10 000.

“Our children however work hard and really enjoy participating, so we try our best to make sure they are able,” mother of Carmen, Coba Swiegers said.

Leolin Petersen, a young Plettenberg Bay gymnast, is participating in the African National Championships in Pretoria this week. Photo: Supplied

Should anyone want to assist the two youngsters Bezuidenhout can be contacted on 060 648 0407 and Swiegers on 083 660 1208.

Read more about these talented and hard-working gymnasts in this week’s Knysna-Plett Herald and make contact if you can help with funding.

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