South African gymnast Caitlin Rooskrantz has blazed the trail for aspiring athletes, who for many years did not have role models who looked like them.
Her rise on the global stage becoming one of the first gymnasts of colour to represent South Africa at the Olympic Games, alongside Naveen Davies, was an immense point of pride for her.
First taste in Tokyo
Olympics 2020, was the first Olympic Games Rooskrantz attended and she shares her experience participating at The Games in Tokyo.
“When I found out I was attending the Olympics in Tokyo, little Caitlin [Rooskrantz] was definitely over-joyed. It was one of those moments for me that everything finally came together and worked out,” she told SportsBoom.com.
“Getting to the Olympic Games was definitely a dream of mine and I did not know if it was possible or not. But having faith, believing and working hard and ultimately getting to the games was definitely a dream come true. And walking away from Tokyo as an Olympian was really something special.”
Meet our flag bearers @AkaniSimbine & Caitlin Rooskrantz who will carry #TeamSA flag high at the Olympics! 🇿🇦✨
— Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) July 26, 2024
Watch them lead #TeamSA in the opening ceremony tonight at 19:25 on @SABC_Sport and @SuperSportTV.
🌟🏅#TeamSA #ForMyCountry #Olympics pic.twitter.com/IJLBBv06MR
Chances of Glory at the Olympics
Rooskrantz through her career as a gymnast, has a few accolades such as bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games and a couple gold medals at the World Cup but is yet to medal at the Olympics.
“Honestly, I don’t put pressure on myself and never have. There is always external pressure as an athlete. My biggest goal is just to keep getting better from where I was at the last Olympic Games [finished below 25th overall].”
“At the time [2020 Olympics] I got a personal best performance and I have done better since. Going into the Paris Olympic Games, my biggest goal is to do better than last year.”
“The external pressure I refer to is the fans and the media. The people I know who have been there with me through my journey understand how gymnastics, don’t put pressure on me at all.
“At the end of the day, as much as it is an elite sport, it is gymnastics and anything can happen because it is such a technical sport. No matter how prepared you can be, it’s all about having the ideal competition on the day and you only have one chance to do it.
“There is a lot that can go wrong and a lot that can go right. Naturally there will always be pressure from fans but it’s not something I put on myself.”
Rooskrantz announced as Team South Africa flag bearer
Alongside SA sprinter Akani Simbine, Rooskrantz will have the honour of carrying the South African flag at Friday’s opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
“When I found out, it was definitely a moment of pride and honour. I did not expect it at all. If you look at the history of flag bearers, we’ve never had a gymnast flag bearer. This is a statement for Gymnastics South Africa that we are on the rise, especially such a small sporting code and breaking barriers,” she added.
“This is a sign and beacon of hope for all the young and aspiring gymnasts that the possibilities are endless. Hard work never goes unnoticed and I am super excited to be awarded the opportunity to lead South Africa alongside Akani [Simbine] at the Paris Olympic Games.”
An advocate of representation
“Representation is definitely a big thing for me, I think especially in South Africa. People who look up to you, they need to see people who look like them doing such great things and especially a sport like gymnastics which was in the past predominantly white.
“I remember for myself growing up in sports, I wasn’t always sure if the sport [gymnastics] was for me and if I had a future in it. But through a lot faith and trusting that things would work out how they were supposed to and that was the big motivating factor for me and just keep going.
“Those little girls and boys need to see that there is someone like them that is breaking barriers and achieving. That my ceiling is their floor and the possibilities are endless.”
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