Trampoline team bags six African medals

Namibia’s trampoline gymnastics team delivered a strong continental showing at the 19th African Trampoline Gymnastics Championships in Tshwane, South Africa, returning with five gold medals and one silver.

The Namibian contingent of Isanrie Dreyer, Victoria Jansen, Jessica Schlabitz and Noa Lofty-Eaton competed at the African showpiece under the guidance of coaches Immanuel Kooper and Vesselin Kostin.

They were accompanied by team manager and Brevet judge Nadine Jaeger, who also officiated at the championships.

The team went into the championships as one of the smallest delegations, with all three gymnasts, Jansen, Schlabitz and Lofty-Eaton, competing in their first International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) event. Dreyer also made her international debut.

Gold-medal haul

Despite that, the girls impressed in qualification, with Schlabitz finishing second overall, Jansen third and Dreyer fifth out of 12 participants.

The Namibian Gymnastics Federation (NGF) noted that all four Namibian gymnasts were the only competitors in the field to complete both of their qualifying routines.

Their performances helped Namibia claim first place in the junior team event on finals day on Wednesday, earning three gold medals.

Schlabitz and Dreyer also secured gold in the synchronised trampoline division, adding to the country’s five-gold medal haul.

Lofty-Eaton capped Namibia’s campaign with silver in the finals after finishing second, a result the federation described as “an incredible achievement”.

The NGF further described the achievement as a proud moment for the country and a major step forward for its trampoline section.

“Our overall experience at the event was absolutely fantastic. We are incredibly proud of our gymnasts for their performances,” the federation said.

“This is a tremendous achievement for the trampoline section of the NGF and a proud moment for Namibia.”

Learning curve in finals

The federation said the competition provided valuable lessons, particularly on finals day, when cold conditions inside the venue made it difficult for gymnasts to stay warm between routines.

“Finals day brought another challenge, as it was extremely cold inside the venue. Waiting long periods before competing made it difficult for the athletes to keep their muscles warm, especially for those competing later in the rotation,” the NGF said.

“Unfortunately, this affected some routines, and a few gymnasts were unable to perform fully to their potential. However, this was an important learning experience, especially since it was the first international finals experience for several of them.”

The federation praised the team’s resilience, noting that the gymnasts remained focused despite occasional delays with the scoring system during the competition.

Judging breakthrough

Jaeger also marked a milestone of her own, officiating at her first international trampoline competition during the championships.

As a Category 4 judge, she was initially only permitted to judge the qualification rounds. However, on finals day, chair of judges Prof Dr Patrick Siegfried requested that she sit alongside her on the difficulty panel.

The NGF said the opportunity gave Jaeger valuable live experience in her development as an international judge.

The judging panel included experienced neutral judges from Europe and Canada, as well as judges from Germany, Ireland and Russia, alongside one judge from each competing country.

Jaeger was selected last month to officiate artistic gymnastics at the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Senegal this October and November. This marks Namibia’s first gymnastics judging representation at the Games, as confirmed by the Namibia National Olympic Committee.

The NGF also credited coaches Kooper and Kostin for guiding the gymnasts through the championships and ensuring a supportive competition environment.

“Our coaches worked exceptionally well together to provide our gymnasts with the comfortable, supportive and safe experience they deserve,” the federation said.

“Without our coaches, these gymnasts would not be where they are today, and Namibia would not have brought home another six medals.”

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