Female gymnasts chosen for African championships

A trial competition was held on 22 January at the Excelsior Gymnastics Club in Windhoek to select the team representing Namibia in the women’s artistic division at the African Championships to be held in Walvis Bay from 28 February to 13 March.

The competition will also serve as a qualifying competition for the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. The Namibian junior team is Mari-Louise du Plessis, Leatitia du Plessis, Nadine Jaeger, Jessica Jaeger and Dannii Biewenga. Reserve is Kira Bezuidenhout.

The senior team is Chloe Hansen, Linique Louw, Elmarize Oosthuizen, Nicole Loubser and Kimberly-Ann van Zyl. Reserve is Michel’le Solomons. Three senior members of the World Gymnastics Federation (FIG) will also be present at this competition, namely the FIG president Mr. Bruno Grandi, the 1st Vice President who is also the medical chairperson, Dr Michel Leglise. and the deputy secretary general, Mr Nicolas Buompane.

Dr. Leglise will monitor the drug testing during the Junior Olympic trials. More than 400 participants are expected in Walvis Bay in the six different codes, namely women’s artistic gymnastics, men’s artistic gymnastics, rythmic gymnastics, aerobics, trampoline and tumbling. This will be the largest African championship in history.