UJ Alumni Impumelelo Magazine Edition 11

Gymnast Caitlin Rooskrantz books her ticket to 2024 Paris Olympic Games

Caitlin Rooskrantz will be aiming to replicate the Springboks’ (South Africa’s national rugby team) impressive performances in the Rugby World Cup when she competes in artistic gymnastics during the 2024 Olympic Games on French soil in Paris. She booked her ticket to the Olympics in early October after her fine display at the FIG Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium. The Games will take place from 28 July to 08 August 2024. This will be her second Olympic Games participation after competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games (held in 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic). In 2024, she will compete alongside French gymnast Melanie de Jesus dos Santos and Simone Biles from the USA, among other stars. The 21-year-old Rooskrantz was one of the first gymnasts of colour to represent South Africa at the Olympic Games. Together with Naveen Daries, the pair paved way for upcoming gymnasts in South Africa, including their breakthrough performances for South African artistic gymnastics at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Alongside Shante Koti, Garcelle Napier and Mammule Rankoe, they placed fourth in the team event. Rooskrantz also made history with bronze on the uneven bars, the country’s first medal in the discipline.

Rooskrantz’s Awards over the past three years: • She was named Women’s Artistic Gymnast of the Year for 2022 by Gymnastics South Africa. • She was named Age Group Sportswoman of the Year and Student-Athlete of the Year at the 2022 University of Johannesburg Sports Awards. • She won the Ministerial Award for Excellence at the 2022 Momentum Gsport Awards in South Africa. • She was named Emerging Athlete of the Year at the 2020 Momentum Gsport Awards in South Africa. • She won a bronze medal for South Africa at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 65

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