Tuks's gymnasts got to learn what back to basics is about when after three months of staying at home; they were eventually allowed to get into the "swing of things" again.
Gymnastics is according to the Tuks head coach, Louis Fourie, a hands-on sport. The only way you can learn how to jump off the beam or flip off the bars is by physically doing it. Gymnastics is also about mind over matter. It is also not something you get to practise at home.
"The biggest challenge we as coaches’ face is not to expect too much to fast of our gymnasts. They need to regain their confidence. That is going to take some time. It might be even as long as four months before some can execute the same world-class routines they did before the Covid-19 lockdown."
This does not faze the four Tuks gymnasts who had been selected to represent South Africa at the Africa Senior and Junior Championships.
"For now, all that matters is that we are back in training. Never again will I take anything for granted. There were times in the past when it was tempting to think tomorrow is another day. The lockdown forced me to take a step back. I now realised how privileged we are to be doing what we do every day," explained the 16-year old Lisa Conradie.
She had been through a difficult time. In 2018 she was op "top of her game" getting to compete at the Youth Olympics. Unfortunately last year she got seriously sick and was forced to take a near four-month sabbatical. She was just getting back into things when the lockdown happened. Conradie refuses to be despondent.
"I won't lie, what happened had been challenging, but it is also a test of character. The time at home was not a total loss. I focussed on doing strength and conditioning exercises as well as improving my flexibility.
She describes being back in the gym doing gymnastics routines as a mental game.
"The Covid-19 pandemic has levelled the playing field somewhat. Gymnasts worldwide are all in the same situation. It is those of us who can remain positive and not give in to frustrations which are going to succeed in the end."
For now, Conradie refuses to speculate as to what she might or might not achieve once she starts competing.
"There is no sense of putting oneself under excessive pressure. I am at my best when I am enjoying myself."
Inneke Josling will also be competing at next year's Africa Senior Championships. Gymnastics is for her all about striving to be better than she was yesterday. She admits it can be challenging.
"No one training session is ever the same. Every day has its own unique challenges. If I can improve one small aspect of my technique each day, it makes all the long hard hours worthwhile."
Phiwe Nhleko who had won a silver medal during last year's Olympic Hopes Cup in the Czech Republic and Tyde Cooper the national champion are the Tuks gymnasts who will be competing at the African Junior Championships.
Photo by Reg Caldecott. LtR: Lisa Conradie, Inneke Josling, Louis Fourie, Tyde Cooper and Phiwe Nhleko
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