Triple gold for Protea gymnast

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Plettenberg Bay's own Léolin Petersen (19) has leapt her way into the national spotlight with a stunning performance at the South African Gymnastics Trampoline Championships in Gqeberha this past weekend.

The talented young Protea gymnast dominated the competition, securing three gold medals in individual trampoline, double mini-trampoline and synchronised trampoline alongside her partner, Matthew Bosch.

Over the years, since she was a little kid, Knysna-Plett Herald has been reporting on her journey, and this performance certainly puts the cherry on top.

Remarkably, Petersen and Bosch had never competed together before.

"It was actually my first time doing synchro with Matthew, and the only time we practised was on the day of the competition!" Petersen revealed, emphasising the superb chemistry that led to their victory.

A triple threat in the air
Despite her triple success, Petersen admits the individual trampoline posed the greatest challenge because it requires performing 10 different skills in a row without stopping, demanding precision and stamina.

In individual trampoline, she tackled challenging skills like the pike, which she says is not her strongest move, and the full-full tuck, a complex skill that has become easier with practice.

"With the individual I sometimes don't even stay on the trampoline, so each jump has to be perfect. Luckily in the end it worked out great."

On the double mini-trampoline, she pointed out the importance of the run-up: "Your mount is the most important part of the entire routine because if it's bad, your dismount will be bad too."

In contrast, Petersen finds double mini-trampoline more manageable, as it requires only two skills, making it her favourite event.

Synchronised trampoline mirrors individual trampoline, but demands perfect harmony with a partner.

"You have to be in perfect sync otherwise you lose points, regardless how well-executed your tumbles are. "Once someone is out of time, it's hard to get back in sync. One person will try to jump lower, the other higher, so it can get messy," she explained.

Dedication behind the success
Petersen's preparation for the nationals was a blend of physical conditioning and mental focus. "I made sure to be at every practice and to hit all my routines," she said. To sharpen her mental game, she visualised her routines before every session.

Her technical precision stems from a disciplined training approach. "During training, I don't practise full routines. I break them down into two or four skills and do a lot of core conditioning to help me hold my shapes," she says.

Inspiration and support
Petersen says her success is deeply rooted in her support system. She credits her coaches, Lee Budler and Mandy Zoonekynd, for their guidance, and looks up to fellow gymnast Bianca Zoonekynd as a role model. Above all, she acknowledges her mother's unwavering support: "I can't forget my mom, she's always been by my side at all times."

For young trampolinists dreaming of following in her footsteps, Petersen's advice is straightforward and simple: "Stay focused, always show up to practice and distance yourself from negative people."

For now, she is fully focused for the international trampoline championships in Spain next month where she will try to emulate her national success.

Léolin Petersen