Tumble with a world-class gymnast

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GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - World champion double mini-trampoline gymnast Bianca Zoonekynd (31) spent Tuesday morning 7 March at SKAT Gymnastics in Heather Park where she hosted a tumbling and trampoline training camp for young gymnasts in George. Members of SKAT and Live Gymnastics in George participated in the event.

Bianca achieved her world championship status when she won gold for South Africa at the Gymnastics World Age Games in Sofia, Bulgaria, in November 2017. She is South Africa's first-ever women's world trampoline champion.

Bianca started trampolining as a mere toddler at the age of three in her mother's trampoline club, Mandy's School of Tumbling and Trampoline, in Gqeberha. "I spent most of my childhood upside down," she told a reporter a few years ago.

Nowadays, Bianca lives and works in Australia, a country she's been calling home for almost five years. More recently she helped to establish a high performance centre for tumbling and trampoline, called Manly Gymnastics.

PHOTO GALLERY: World champion gymnast visits George

The centre is situated near Sydney's northern beaches. "I just got my permanent residency in Australia," Bianca told George Herald during a quick interview on Tuesday. "I came to South Africa for the first time in five years to do the Ironman in Gqeberha last weekend, and to see my family who lives there." Her mother and brother are still running their gymnastics club in Gqeberha.

Owner of SKAT, Riaan Swanepoel, is well connected with her parents through the gymnast fraternity. "I literally knew Bianca since she was in diapers," said Riaan.

"It is very special that she chose George and SKAT gymnastics to come and do a training camp."

He is as proud of Bianca's achievements as her parents.

Bianca's motto is "Believe and achieve". Her advice for young gymnasts is: "Keep pushing on - never stop!"

VIDEO: World Champ gymnast Bianca Zoonekynd

Fun facts

Bianca Zoonekynd is the female who holds the world record for the highest difficulty value in a single routine.
She was flag bearer for South Africa for the opening ceremony at the 2013 World Games in Cali, Colombia.

Bianca Zoonekynd (31) paid a visit to South Africa for the first time in five years to do the Ironman in Gqeberha last weekend, and to see her family who lives there. Photo: Michelle Pienaar

Coach and owner of Live Gymnastics Lisa Gower (left), owner and coach of SKAT Gymnastics Riaan Swanepoel (right), coach Lousanne Terblanche (third from right, back) and a group of young gymnasts at the premises of SKAT Gymnastics in Heather Park, during a workshop given by Bianca Zoonekynd (second from left, middle). Photo: Michelle Pienaar