Gymnastics takes a collective bow after cleaning up at the Region 5 Youth Games in Lilongwe, Malawi

By GARY LEMKE in Lilongwe

They say you always remember the first and the sport of gymnastics will be taking a collective bow after cleaning up at the Region 5 Youth Games in Lilongwe, Malawi, on Sunday. Team SA are strongly fancied to dominate the medals table – especially with swimming getting under way on Monday – but it was the tumblers who provided the first gold medals.

And, like one somersault brings more, Team SA ended the day with four gold medals from gymnastics. The girls won the team competition and the boys quickly followed suit. Then it was the individual competition and Team SA picked up gold and silver in both.

Someone who will arrive back in South Africa on Monday as a double gold medallist from these Games, and having just turned 14 a week or so ago, is Alejandra Morales Martinez. She was part of the team competition and then beat off teammate Anina Le Hanie in the individual competition. She also had the memory of carrying the flag at the opening ceremony at the Bingu National Stadium.

However, it will be business as usual when the teenage talent returns to Pinnacle College in Benoni next year to start her Grade 9 schooling. She will slide into the classroom and immerse herself in her books. “At school I’m very quiet, so people don’t know me. I like it that way,” she said after winning gold in Lilongwe. “I don’t like being in the spotlight, I don’t like everyone knowing who I am.”

The thing is, soon Morales Martinez’s name will be in lights, because she’s one of the brightest young gymnastics talents in South Africa and finished fifth in the world in the recent age group competition. She’s happiest though when in the gym.

“I train from Monday to Friday and I enjoy it. I finish school at 2.20 in the afternoon and then I start training at 3. Most days I get home at 7 and then do my homework, so it’s a long day.”

Well, they say that practice makes perfect, so the starlet is well on the way to perfection – or as close as you can get in gymnastics – given her dedication. “I’m very hard on myself,” she says. “If I don’t perform to my best then I tell myself that I should have, because I know I can do better. There’s no reason to not produce your best, especially at training.”

Along with the tears, as Team SA’s Commonwealth Games medallist Caitlin Rooskrantz says “are normal in gymnastics”, is the risk of injury. And, although just turned 14, Morales Martinez has already had painful ankle injuries. “About a month before SA’s I almost tore my ligaments in my left ankle, and during SA’s I hurt my right ankle.”

Going forward she would love to win the World Championships gold. And the Olympics, of course! “My role model is Simone Biles but I also want to be a role model to others. I want to inspire girls to believe that boys aren’t good at everything that they do and that you can beat them in some things as well.”

She’s also looking forward to the experience of competing in packed arenas. I’m not intimidated by a crowd. I feel that I’m doing the same thing I’ve done so many times before, just in front of more people. Why should it be different with a lot more people watching.”

And with that, as we are sitting on the stairs outside the hall in which she had just won gold, came another reality of what to expect in international competition – dope testing. Along came a tester with a clipboard. “Ag, not again!” she exclaimed. “OK, I’ve got to go, see you soon,” and off into the future the young star went.

Photos: ROGER SEDRES