A teenage girl has made history by becoming the first South African to win a gold medal at an international gymnastics competition.
Competing at the FIG Challenge Cup in Szombathely, Hungary, Joburg’s Caitlin Rooskrantz scooped a gold medal in the uneven bars, ahead of British and Spanish competitors.
“I have worked my entire career for that moment of true success on one of the biggest international stages, so when I did the routine of my life and realised I had won, I was totally overwhelmed but so proud of myself,” the 17-year-old said.
Caitlin is the 2018 national champion and also the current African champion on bars.
Her coach, Ilse Pelser, described her as one of the hardest working athletes she had ever worked with.
“She is a fighter and has come back from quite a few injuries to achieve great success in her career thus far. I’m excited about her future and feel like this is only the beginning of bigger things to come,” Pelser said.
The teen said she started gymnastics at six years old after her family friends recommended it as she was always jumping on the furniture.
She is currently in Grade 12 at Parktown Girls’ High and will soon leave to compete at the Stuttgart World Championships with the hope of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics next year, reports the Cape Argus.
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Pelser said the road to the championship wasn’t an easy one.
Between an ankle injury scare last month, preparing for her preliminary matric exams and the disappointment of not going to the All Africa Games, Caitlyn had persevered to come this far.