PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - A young gymnast flew the Plettenberg Bay flag high during the school holiday when she came home with several titles under her belt after competing at the SA National Gymnastics Championships in Pretoria.
The 12-year-old Leolin Petersen, who is in Grade 6 at Plettenberg Bay Primary School, proved her mettle on the gymnastics floor and became the national champion in the tumbling and double mini-trampoline disciplines. She also secured a silver medal in the Euro-trampoline discipline. She competed in the 11 to 12-year age category.
“I’m very proud of Leolin. She puts in the hard work and it has paid off,” said her mother Helen Bezuidenhout.
Leolin, who trains at the South Cape Trampoline Academy in George, is no newcomer to the podium, however. Last year, during the same competition, she managed to secure a gold medal in the Euro-trampoline and the double mini-trampoline disciplines.
The young sport star started her gymnastics career at the age of three and have many titles under the belt.
Bezuidenhout said Leolin has dedicated her life to her sport and from 2011 until this year has received SWD colours in various disciplines.
As this young gymnast lives in Plettenberg Bay, Leolin’s family has had to make many sacrifices. With her club based in George, she has to travel with a lift for training and then back again with another lift. Because of this, she can only train twice a week – on Saturdays and Sundays – yet she still manages to excel in her sport.
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