A young lady from Bishop Lavis is working hard and flexing her muscles in the hopes of becoming the first junior South African bodybuilder to compete in the World Champs in 2020.
At only 11-years-old, Caitlyn Bergh is a heroine in her community after winning top honours at both the Western Province and South African Natural BodyBuilding Championships last month.
The Grade 5 pupil from Bergville Primary is one of the first members of the Direct Connection Bodybuilding Club run from the home of coach André Alexander, 41.
Alexander started the club several months ago using his own gym equipment in the hopes of creating a community upliftment project for laaities in Lavis.
He says while boys and girls as young as eight years old come to train each day after school, Caitlyn has shown the most promise.
“She trains hard and we just knew she would make it. Her poses and performances are perfect and she is very focused,” he says.
In September, Caitlyn competed at the provincial championships hosted by the WP Natural Bodybuilding Union held at the Bellville Civic Centre where she competed in the junior category.
DEDICATED: Caitlyn trains regularly at the home of proud coach, André Alexander. Picture: Monique Duval
“The category goes up to 21 years old and she came out tops,” says Alexander.
“She qualified for the SA Champs which were held in Knysna but it turned out that no juniors from other provinces had qualified so she was put in the seniors line-up, did her poses and was ranked the South African juniors champ.”
TALENT: Provincial and national prizes. Picture: Monique Duval
The shy meisie says she was not afraid to stand next to the older women with their bigger muscles: “I wasn’t bang, I was ready to show them what I know.”
Parents, Clayton Jonkers and Crizell Bergh, say they have high hopes for Caitlyn.
PARENTS: Clayton Jonkers, Crizell Bergh. Picture: Monique Duval
“She has no sponsors, but she still goes on. There is very little help for females in this sport, but she is passionate and with all the gender-based violence happening in Cape Town and in a place like Bishop Lavis, we want her to grow into a strong young woman and be a role model for other children.”
Alexander says they need to raise over R20 000 to get Caitlyn to Toulouse in France for the 2020 World Champs, taking place on 28 October.
“She is still too young to enter this year. In the junior category, there are no SA females who go to the World Champs, so we are hoping she is a first.”
HEROINE: Bodybuilding champ Caitlyn Bergh, 11, of Bishop Lavis. Picture: Monique Duval
Anyone who would like to assist is asked to call Alexander on 064 821 5545.