Caitlin Rooskrantz qualifies for the 2020 Olympics after her performance at the 49th FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championship.
Stuttgart, Germany – Caitlin Rooskrantz started gymnastics at the age of seven and now, will be representing South Africa at the 2020 Olympics. She qualified for the Olympics after competing in the 2019 Artistic World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.
The local gymnast has made history by becoming the first South African to win a gold medal for her bar routine at the World Challenge Cup earlier this month.
According to the South African Gymnastics Federation, Caitlin will qualify, they are just waiting for the FIG to issue confirmation this coming Sunday which is the last day of the Championship in Germany.
“The most exciting news is that Caitlin will qualify for the Olympic Games with her performance at the World Championships (awaiting FIG confirmation on Sunday). Even with a fall on beam she reached a total score of 49.466” – South African Gymnastics Federation
The SA federation is now holding thumbs for Naveen Daries, Caitlin’s teammate, who will be able to qualify for the Olympics at the African Championship in 2020.
“Due to the one country qualification rule Naveen is unable to qualify for the Olympics at these World Championships, however, she does have the opportunity to qualify at the African Championships in 2020 which will be hosted in Tshwane, South Africa in April.”
The young women have the next eight months to train for the Olympics. The acting South African Gymnastics Federation President Donovan Jurgens says they are the very best of South Africa and he says they are the verge of making Olympic history.
“These women’s performances are the best South Africa has seen in years. It is the first time a South African Artistic Woman has qualified at the World Championships for the Olympics without utilizing the African Continental birth. And to have two gymnasts’ neck on neck in this race is even more encouraging. Should Naveen qualify at the African Championships this will be the first time in South African Gymnastics history that two gymnasts from the same discipline qualify for an Olympic Games.”
We are so proud of Caitlin and are holding thumbs for Naveen to qualify early next year. Well done ladies!
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