PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Plettenberg Bay’s star gymnast Leolin Petersen has done it again, this time shining on an international stage.

The 12-year-old Plettenberg Bay Primary School Grade 6 learner has just returned from Pretoria where she represented South Africa at the Region 5 gymnastics competition, competing against gymnasts from across Southern Africa over the weekend. 

Some of the countries represented at the competition included Angola, Namibia, Swaziland, Mozambique and Botswana.

She not only managed to secure the junior titles in the double mini trampoline and Euro trampoline disciplines but also took silver in the synchronised gymnastics category. Her team also came home with double mini trampoline and Euro trampoline gold.

The competition is aimed at only preparing up-and-coming youngsters for international competition, and to promote and develop the sport in the region. The event is hosted on a rotational basis among member countries with last year’s event having been hosted by Nambia. Gymnasts competed in various categories including artistic men, artistic women, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and aerobic.

“We are very proud of Leolin. She trains very hard and all her efforts are paying off,” said her mother Helen Bezuidenhout.

These accomplishments follow fresh on her successes during the June holidays when Leolin came home with several titles under her belt after competing at the SA National Gymnastics Championships in Pretoria, when she became the national champion in the tumbling and double mini trampoline disciplines. She also secured a silver medal in the Euro trampoline discipline.

Bezuidhenhout said Leolin will be stepping her training up a notch from next year when she will be coached by renowned gymnastics coach Mandy Zoonekynd from Port Elizabeth. Zoonekynd coached her daughter Bianca into the history books when she became the first South African in 37 years to win the Trampoline World Championships last year.