Angel has a passion for gymnastics

The 19-year-old Angel Mulaudzi of Mailaskop is a keen member of the Louis Trichardt Gymnastics Club.

Mulaudzi matriculated at Makhado Comprehensive school and spent a lot of time watching gymnastics, which made her fall in love with the sport. “I had a burning desire for the sport, so much so that I pushed my family until they let me join.” I joined the club for three months, but then I had to leave it because of financial challenges. That did not diminish the love I have for the sport. While I was away from the club for the rest of the year, I used to push myself to train alone at home,” she said.

She mentioned that this was not easy, because they use apparatus in artistic gymnastics and the space was limited at home. “I always motivated myself with the idea that if you don't quit, you will win.”

The following year, her family sent her back to the gymnastics club, which she considered a "God-answered-my-prayers situation".

She got an opportunity to compete in 2017, where she competed from district level to national level. She qualified for the schools’ national summer championships that were held in Pretoria and came back with a bronze medal in artistic gymnastics - the only artistic gymnast who came back with a medal that year.

In 2018, her fortuitous journey continued. “I got an opportunity to go and learn more about the sport, and I managed to get a coaching certificate. I competed from district to provincial to national level that year, and I managed to come back with a gold medal in artistic gymnastics.”

In 2019, she got the opportunity to go for a judging course, where she managed to become a qualified judge. She said that becoming a judge had not been easy, since she was the only black judge. As time went on, ”I adapted to working with others”, she said.

In December 2019, she had an opportunity to judge at national level as the youngest judge to do so in school sports championships.

Earlier this year, she went on a judging course for rope skipping, and she passed. The journey is not an easy one, considering the lack of financial stability of her family. “I used to call it a sport, but as I was becoming more successful, I realized that it was not a sport for me but my passion.”

She advises the youth to surround themselves with dreamers, doers, believers and thinkers, “but most of all, surround yourself with those who see greatness within you, even when you don't see it yourself. Whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward”.

Date:28 June 2020

By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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