PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Plettenberg Bay's gymnastics ace Leolin Petersen has set her sights on the South African Gym Games 2024 after qualifying for the event recently.

Leolin, who turned 18 earlier this month, and celebrated this milestone by doing the world's highest bridge bungee jump at Bloukranz, is one of 26 gymnasts from Mandy's School of Tumbling and Trampoline who have qualified for this event, which will take place between 23 and 25 September in Cape Town.

The Plettenberg Bay Primary School alumnus, who now lives in Gqeberha to be closer to her coaches, will be representing the Eastern Cape at the event which will see the country's top gymnasts compete.

Leolin thanked her coaches for their tireless efforts to ensure that she is at her best.

This after she recently shone on the international stage, not only securing personal accomplishments, but also contributing to the South African team in bringing home gold after competing at the Coimbra Trampoline World Cup in Portugal last month.

Leolin represented South Africa in both the team and individual categories. Her team managed to secure a gold medal in the double mini-trampoline competition, and a silver medal in tumbling.

In the individual category, Leolin managed to walk away with a silver medal in the double-mini. Her teammate and former world champion Bianca Zoonekynd secured the gold medal.

This is just one of a long list of achievements by the young gymnast, who now attends Framesby High School.

Her most recent achievements include being crowned as 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 her winning triple gold at the Trampoline Gymnastics SA Cup 2024 at the Fairview Sport Centre in Gqeberha earlier this year.

Last year she also made the South African team for 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 part of the senior South African team.

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