South African Gymnastics Champion Two Years in a Row
In 2011 Lucille Erwee was the South African champion for level 4 Women’s Artistic Gymnastics,. age 11-12 years and in 2012, she was again South African champion for Level 5, in the 19 years and under age group.
I started writing this testimony in October 2011…and then saved it incomplete as a draft, but I think its a good story to share in our “Homeschool Hall of Fame”!
I will admit straight out that I started writing this post to share our thrill, which is impossible to do without boasting – so forgive me for that part.
In October this year my eldest daughter Lucy (13) won the title as 2011 South African Champion for Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Level 4 in her age group at the SA Gymnastics Games in Cape Town.
It was an achievement that she has trained for religiously and it was well-earned.
My other reason for sharing this great achievement is to encourage and give hope to other homeschoolers and their children by sharing the history behind the success story.
When Lucy was about 7 years old, she saw gymnastics on TV and decided that she wanted to do it. Here in Hermanus, there is only one place she could possibly do it and we were given a definite “No” – only pupils at the school can participate in their sports activities.
Then, in the April school holidays of that year, a school-going friend invited her to join her at a 3-morning sports ‘workshop’ for the kids, where they could take part in hockey, tennis and gymnastics. Well, Lucy and her little friend spent all 3 sessions of the first morning doing gymnastics, instead of rotating between the sports.
Well, we prayed hard for those 3 days that the Lord would let her find favour, if it was in His will for Lucy to do gymnastics and we were delighted when at the coach’s request, the headmaster agreed to make an exception for Lucy as she had showed such talent.
Here in Hermanus, they only practice twice a week and making the grade for the Boland team is considered good for that level of training. We didn’t expect more and we were delighted when she achieved her Boland colours.
Two years later, a new coach, started coaching at the school. He coaches gym club in the Strand but lives in Hermanus. He started taking a selected few gymnastics from Hermanus to the club in the Strand so that they could use certain equipment there, which the school does not have here.
I believe this was also a God-given opportunity but even when opportunities come, life is not always smooth-sailing, as there are character-building lessons to learn along the way.
At first, Lucy and the other two Hermanus girls felt very alienated by the other girls in the club. They were the outsiders and of course their standard of gymnastics was not as high as those girls who had been training more seriously, 5 days a week. It was tough-going emotionally, but they persevered.
Then things changed. It was decided that the Hermanus gymnasts could train at the Helderberg Gymnastics Connection in the Strand on a permanent basis.
Instead of their training there being a favour before competitions, they were now paying members of the club and soon they felt accepted as part of the girls’ group.
2011 was a year of hard training…hours of conditioning and strength-building exercises to turn sweet girls into lean, mean muscled machines! Not a murmur of complaint was heard all year, but many times Lucy would come home and crash into bed exhausted. On the days when they trained in Hermanus, they would do conditioning themselves..so training was virtually 5 days a week.
Her goal this year (2011), she said was to win the gold medal at the Boland competition in August. I was nervous. What if she was disappointed again after all this training, travelling and effort?
My nerves were on edge, but in vain – she performed beautifully, earning high scores to win the gold.
Next up was the Western Cape competition in September…and she did it again…winning the gold medal. Relief…… she had qualified to compete at the SA Gym Games – another big goal.
…but now she would be up against the best in the country.
…and as I have said already, she pulled it off, winning the gold medals for Bar and Vaulting, the silver medal on Floor and the overall Gold Medal.
It was amazing to see a child realize her dreams and go from “nowhere” to SA champion.
As I’ve said previously, “Homeschoolers have talent!”…but we humbly acknowledge that God has made the way and provided the opportunities, means and top coaching required for Lucy to reach her full potential!
Our testimony is that God will make a way, where there seems to be no way.
Back to Homeschoolers’ Achievements.