Gymnast Alejandra Morales Martinez is considered one of the brightest gymnastics talents in South Africa and she has been given another accolade with the announcement that she will carry the flag for Team SA at the opening ceremony of the Region V Games in Lilongwe, Malawi, on Friday.

The young gymnast celebrated her 14th birthday last week (27th November) but she is in Malawi as a shining star already. The Benoni teenager is a national age-group champion in Tumbling and Women’s Artistic Gymnastics and is a reigning gold medallist from last year’s Region V Games in Maseru, Lesotho, winning as a 13-year-old.

Last month she represented South Africa in tumbling at the World Age Group competitions in Sofia, Bulgaria. Tumbling, also referred to as power tumbling, requires a gymnast to perform a series of acrobatic skills down a 25m long spring track.

In making the announcement, the chef de mission of Team SA at these Region V Games, Ms Patience Shikwambana, paid tribute to the athlete. “It gives us such great pleasure to announce Alejandra as the flag bearer for the opening ceremony. She has represented her country internationally and was so impressive in winning gold at these Games last year. In her short career she has risen up the world rankings and has already competed against the best the world has to offer in her age group.

“We’re so excited to see her in Malawi defending her title from last year and we’re also looking forward to supporting her and watching her as she goes from strength to strength. Carrying the flag for her country at an international Games such as these is such a great honour for her and we wish her all the best,” Ms Shikwambana added.