• Gymnastics

Elite RG gymnasts make their mark in Belgium

• 1 Week Ago 14 November 2024

Five rhythmic gymnasts from Windhoek’s Elite Rhythmic Gymnastics Club (Elite RG) represented the country last weekend at the 26th edition of the Happy Cup in Ghent, Belgium, and arrived back home yesterday.

The event attracted over 150 gymnasts from Greece, France, Finland, Egypt, Canada, Luxembourg, Germany, Bulgaria and Namibia, competing to showcase their grace, flexibility and precision.

Under the guidance of Elite RG’s head coach, Eleonora Karamfilova, the Elite team performed impressively.



Kayla Duchaine

Competing at the Junior A-level, Kayla Duchaine from St Paul’s College reached four finals, winning silver medals in the hoop discipline, placing fourth in ribbon and ball, and achieving sixth place in clubs. She was ranked 9th in the category.

She expressed delight in having made it to the four finals. “I’m thankful to God for giving me the strength to do my best and for guiding me throughout.

“This achievement means a lot to me, but it’s not just for me, but for my whole country. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my coaches, my family and everyone who believed in me.”

She said the biggest lesson she learned is that it’s not just about winning, but how one handles challenges to persevere.

Regarding future competitions, Duchaine is mostly looking forward to the Region 5 competition in December in Harare, Zimbabwe, as well as the Junior World Championships next year in Sofia, Bulgaria.

“There’s always room for improvement, and each competition brings me closer to my big goal of representing Namibia at the Olympic Games someday. Thank you to my school for supporting me and allowing me the time to compete,” Duchaine said.



Jayd Pretorius

Jayd Pretorius (Pionierspark Primary School) competed in the Mini 2 B-level, securing a silver medal in the clubs and a bronze in free dance, ultimately being ranked fifth overall.

While she saw the achievement as validation of her hard work and sacrifices, she acknowledged the room for improvement. “I know I can improve. This achievement isn’t just about placement, but growing as an athlete and continually refining my skills.”

Regarding upcoming competitions, Pretorius also looks forward to next year’s Junior World Championship and the upcoming Olympic qualifiers. “These are key milestones for me, and I’m determined to keep pushing the limits of what I can achieve.”



Karli Conradie

Competing in the Mini 2 B-level, Karli Conradie (Pionierspark Primary) clinched a bronze medal in the free dance and was ranked third overall in the competition.

She expressed pride in her performance in a foreign country. “It shows that I can move forward with confidence and aim higher. While the competition showed me that reaching my goals is possible, it, in turn, taught me that it takes hard work to compete against the best and stay at the top,” Conradie said.

Regarding her ambitions, she said: “I’d love to compete at the Junior World Championship in Bulgaria and am looking forward to returning to Belgium for the Happy Cup next year.”



Nina-Mari Nel, Gabriella Mouton

Nina-Mari Nel from Windhoek Afrikaans School (competing in Hope 2 B-level) and Gabriella Mouton from Windhoek International School (Pre-Junior 2 B-level) were ranked seventh overall in their respective categories.

While Nel gets excited to compete in similar big competitions like the Junior World Championships and the Olympic qualifiers, her affinity is with the personal growth that happens in smaller events.

“The quieter moments in between at smaller competitions excite me more, as I get to experiment, take risks and connect with the music during my routines,” she said.

She mostly looks forward to the opportunities to grow and learn. “It’s not always about the podium for me, but building a deeper connection with myself and my performance. Ultimately, it’s those personal victories that will stay with me the most.”

Meanwhile, Mouton said every competition teaches her something new. This time, she learned to trust herself more, especially when things don’t go as planned.

“I also learned the importance of mental preparation and staying focused throughout the entire event, not just during the routines.”



Coach’s thoughts

Karamfilova expressed satisfaction with the Elite gymnasts’ performance. “It is a very prestigious competition with a high level of competition in Europe. I am truly happy with how the girls performed,” she remarked.

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