Wasabi gymnasts gear up for African champs

Being nervous can be a good thing, but it needs to be the right kind of nerves, the kind that makes you perform at your best, says Leah Slimmert ,16, one of four gymnasts from Lotus River-based Wasabi Gymnastics Club selected to take part in the Aerobic Gymnastics African Championships, in Cairo, Egypt, in September.

Leah, along with teammates Jordan Valley, Jahnika Woodman and Halley Hendricks, have been putting in the hard yards ahead of the continental showpiece under the watchful eye of their coaches at Zeekoevlei Primary School.

Introduced to the sport by her grandmother and club head coach, Salaamah Davids, the youngster has been doing gymnastics for 10 years and says she’s learnt how to play it cool under pressure, especially during competition.

Gymnastics is very challenging, physically and mentally, and requires strength, flexibility and endurance to perform well,” she said.

“During competition times I feel stressed and under pressure and this sometimes affects my ability to perform full out, although it is normal to be nervous at times,” she said.

If gymnastics is a metaphor for life, then overcoming challenges is part of the deal, she said.

“I think the most challenging thing about gymnastics is fear and mental blocks, especially after trauma of performing or a serious injury,” she said.

“Another challenge for me is the mental pressure of handling competition pressure, pressure from your teammates, family and coaches.

“Thankfully I am surrounded by people who are willing to help me achieve my goals and I have a positive mindset,” she said.

“For me, it’s believing and trusting that you can do things beyond your expectations, said teammate Jahnika Woodman, 14, an all-round sporty girl who also likes to dance and to play netball.

“Yes, it can be tough at times, but I always tell myself, ‘you can do this, you did this routine like a million times before’ and that would motivate me.”

Fellow Cairo-bound club member, Halley Hendricks, 16, says it’s all mind over matter.

“Sometimes gymnastics can be very challenging, during competitions I'm a bit nervous but I also focus on what I have to do and I overcome my stress by breathing and saying positive words,” she said.

“The thing I like most about gymnastics is doing it at competitions, showing what I'm capable of,” she said.

Fellow teammate, Jordan Vally, 16, a natural performer, says he always did tricks in the lounge at home from a young age. “That's when I found out I could do the splits and that I had good flexibility,” he said.

Club founder and head coach, Salaamah Davids, said she loves nothing more than to see the youngsters’ faces when they stand on that podium, knowing they’ve achieved a part of their dreams.

Davids has been involved with coaching various codes, including netball and athletics, for more than 35 years and has received numerous accolades for her achievements in track and field and coached the Western Cape rope skipping team who took part in the national championships in 2019.

Established in 2010, Wasabi, she said, has produced a number of Western Cape gymnasts over the past 14 years, specialising in acrobatics, aerobics, gym4all, trampoline and artistic gymnastics. Wasabi is derived from the names of founder members Wayne Samuels, (Salaamah) Davids, and Sabina Swartz.

Although proud of the young gymnasts achievements, raising the necessary funds to cover all expenses remains a headache, she said.

”We are a bit worried they need to pay a deposit of R8 100 by the end of July and need to raise R15000 in total,” she said.

Fellow founder member Wayne Samuels, concurs, saying: “We appeal to the public and potential donors to assist the gymnasts with the cost. This is an opportunity of a lifetime, and we want all our gymnasts to experience what it is like to compete at the international level. The gymnasts are in dire need of financial assistance,” he said.

If you’d like to help, call 082 652 2432 or 081 886 5725