Cape Town - Through sheer determination and perseverance working on her skills, Anina le Hanie, 15, has broken new barriers in tumbling.
Anina, from Stellenbosch, will compete in the Trampoline Gymnastics World Age Group Competitions in Bulgaria in November.
She is among a 43-member South African team that includes 35 gymnasts and eight coaches.
Anina said it is a huge honour to represent the country at such a young age and at a prestigious event.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity. I am going to give it my best and make the most of my first overseas competition. More importantly, I plan to enjoy myself and learn from the experience,” she said.
The Grade 9 pupil of Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof decided to focus on tumbling after she won SAs for the first time at the age of 10. Since then, the Eversdal Gymnastics Club member has dominated national competitions.
She said her achievements and feeling good after competitions keeps her motivated.
“I like the challenges of tumbling,” said Anina, who is a fan of US gymnast Simone Biles. Biles has won a total of seven Olympic medals, which include four gold, one silver and two bronze.
“I love her floor routine,” she added.
Anina’s love for the sport started at a young age after she hung her head upside down from the scaffolding of a house her family was building.
Her mother, Anne-Mari, described her daughter as hard-working and who manages to keep herself motivated all the time.
“She hardly ever tells me that she is too tired to practise. She is always very keen on trying something new and will never stop before she can do it,” she said.
Anne-Mari added that she can see how gymnastics is helping her daughter mentally and physically.
“It makes her stronger in unfamiliar situations and this definitely reflects in her performance,” she said.