Still flushed with success after their impressive displays at World Championships last week, SA gymnastics duo Claudia Cummins and Naveen Daries took time to share their delight with Team SA’s Mark Etheridge.
The two ended 34 and 39 respectively at the world artistic championships in Montreal, Canada.
It’s the best-ever return from a South African team at world championships and bodes well for this code’s chances at next year’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
CLAUDIA CUMMINS (22)
‘This year leading up to worlds was much more of a challenge than ever before. I’m busy completing my Honours in Biokinetics which has been very demanding and leaving me with less time to train, but I focused on shorter sessions with better quality.
‘It could never have been possible with out the help of Ilse Pelser and Glen Hlongwane, my head coaches and the support of my mom and dad. I’ve have been training early morning sessions, late evening and also added Sunday sessions in order to get competition-ready – and it paid off.
‘This worlds I really did enjoy the training in Canada prior the competition under Lynette Lindque’s watchful eyes.
‘Previously I have had many experiences of injuring myself or doing something silly and going into the comp not fully in one piece, but this time, the training in Canada helped me to be better prepared than before. Training with Canada, Belgium, Russia was such a treat especially since Ellie Black is one of my biggest role models!
‘The competition started off just as I would have liked and hitting both my vaults! On bars I struggled to hit all my handstands and hit my heels on the low bar before my dismount – but catching both my releases with no trouble and getting through the routine without any major mistakes put a smile on my face.
‘The Beam – my most favourite event! I stuck both of my first elements solid which kept me steady and settled my nerves. My switch half did not go as well as I train it and my side Ariel had a slight balance correction but I’m happy with a hit routine.
‘Floor, our last event, went as planned and I landed both my double saltos and enjoyed the moment in the limelight, expressing my floor dance to the judges.
‘With my studies being so hectic this year I actually never thought I’d be able to qualify and compete here at Montreal World Champs but it was my fourth world champs and I hope I did SA proud and that I led my team with experience. I always try to say positive and also help my teammates to settle their nerves. I’m so honoured to represent South Africa once again and appreciate all the support I have received leading up to this time!
‘My goals for next year include doing well at the Commonwealth Games (my ranking here at worlds was sixth in the Commonwealth nations) where I would love to make at least one or two finals.
NAVEEN DARIES (15)
‘Worlds was an incredible opportunity for me as I got to represent South Africa with just the best people and I have also got so much experience out of this competition that it can only make me better for the future.
‘It was my first worlds and I feel like I have improved with every international competition this year – first at the Slovenia World Cp where I didn’t make any finals, then to the Hungary World Cup where I made vault and floor finals and now here in Canada where I feel I did a good job at my first worlds.
‘During the competition I hit all my events. Vault, being my first event, was so stressful for me and just before I was suppose to present to the judges I was concentrating so hard on my vault that I panicked for a little as I had no idea where to look!
‘For bar, I just added my new release this year and competed it successfully at worlds but I troubled with the skill following. As shaky and nerve-racking as beam is I was quite stable while competing which was really fortunate as my previous training on beam was not the absolute best.
‘On floor, one of my favourite events, not only did I get to express myself but I got to have so much fun while doing my floor. World championships were a great experience and I’m already excited about competing at the Doha World Champs in 2018. Also, nothing could have been accomplished without my coaches Ilse and Glen – they pushed me to the ultimate and I’m so grateful for that.’
Next year I really want to improve on my seventh-place Commonwealth ranking received here and I really want to help Team SA do well at African Champs in May and the worlds in October. I’m feeling very motivated and inspired.
‘I’m also very grateful to Lynette Lindeque who accompanied us as coach to this event and who helped me do as well as I did. I’m thrilled that Claudia and I could be part of a history-making worlds with Lynette by our side.’
Picture of Daries courtesy of Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images