The biggest challenge facing any gymnast seems to be overcoming their personal fears as one mere moment of self-doubt can lead to failure or even injury.
This is precisely what attracted the 13-year-old, Phiwe Nhleko to the sport. Gymnastics is for the Tuks-athlete all about striving for that one moment of absolute perfection, but she realises in her chosen sport there are never any guarantees. Success and failure tend to go hand in hand.
"When trying to master a new technique or routine in gymnastics, the secret is not to overthink things. It must be like when you are young. Do first and worry later," explains Phiwe, who won the junior vault during the recent South African Championships held in Centurion.
"In gymnastics, you can never rest on your laurels. There is always something you can improve on. For me, at the moment, it is my landing when coming down after a vault. Even the way your toes are pointed when busy executing a move is of vital importance. Gymnastics will always be about marginal gains.
Nhleko has been selected to represent South Africa at the Olympic Hopes Cup in Liberec, Czech Republic. The 13-year old South African all-round junior champion, Tyde Cooper, is the other Tuks gymnast who will be competing.
Cooper used to an avid ballet dancer at first, but once she started doing gymnastics, there was no stopping her. Getting to swing upside down from the bars turned out to be decisive.
"When doing a routine on the bars, there are times when I feel absolutely 'free'. It is as if anything is possible. Some times I am amazed at what my body is capable of. Through gymnastics, I got to learn that the only limits there are, are the ones you place on yourself."
Inneke Josling who was third overall during the recent South African Senior Gymnastics Championships will be competing at the Hungary World Cup Tournament over the weekend.
During the national championships, she won the vault; however, she views the bars as her favourite discipline. It is what tends to get her adrenaline pumping.
"Being a gymnast is for me all about mind over matter, especially when doing something like a backwards flip. The beam is only 10 centimetres wide, so there is a real chance of making a mistake and falling. But if you get to execute any move to perfection, it is truly a 'wow' moment. That is what gymnastics is about."
Louis Fourie (TuksGymnastics head coach) encourages parents to let their children try out gymnastics as it forms a sound basis for any sport. It is also where athletes get to learn from a young age what discipline and hard work is about. For more information, he can be contacted at 083 252 2955.
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