South African Women’s Artistic gymnasts, Kirsten Beckett and Claudia Cummins, both from the Johannesburg Gymnastics Centre, competed at the DOHA World Challenge Cup last weekend.
Beckett and Cummins qualified to compete for this event at the World Challenge Cup Trials held in Pretoria in February earlier this year, by attaining first and second position (respectively) at the trials.
With both gymnasts’ eyes set on competing at the Olympic Games in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Doha is a stepping stone proving to SASCOC that they are not only Olympic material, but also have the potential to be medal winners for the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
The Doha Challenge saw a strong international field with on average 25 girls contesting in each apparatus, with only top 8 going through to the finals. Gymnasts came from countries such as Romania, China, Great Britain and Switzerland to name a few. Both gymnasts performed at their very best.
Cummins was not able to progress past preliminaries, however Beckett’s efforts enabled her to attain a spot in two finals, in the floor and vault events. Additionally, she was able to raise her game in the finals, by improving two places to that in which she qualified, for both floor and vault.
The 2012 Africa Champs Individual all-round silver medalist concluded with successful 5th and 6th positions, in the floor and vault respectively.
Women’s Artistic Programme Manager, Paddy Chadwick, attended the event as well, representing South Africa as a judge.
With former South African gymnast Ilse Laing as both girls coach and mentor, the 17 year-old gymnasts have a bright future ahead as they prepare for their next international competition, in Slovenia in April at the Salmun Memorial Challenge Cup.
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