Gymnasts from the Walvis Bay Gymnastics Club delivered an impressive performance at the Namibia Gymnastics Federation’s Trampoline and Tumbling National Championships, with several athletes claiming national trophies across multiple disciplines.
The two-day championships, held in Outjo for the first time, attracted 68 gymnasts from four clubs: Walvis Bay Gymnastics Club, Moria Outjo, Windhoek Trampoline Club and Chalk Windhoek.
Zinkayla Strauss emerged as one of Walvis Bay’s standout performers, winning the Level 1 national trophy in both trampoline and tumbling, demonstrating her versatility across the two disciplines.
Chalton Ipinge also celebrated success, winning the Level 7 trampoline trophy and receiving the award for Most Improved Boy, while Darius Botes claimed the Level 3 tumbling title.
In double-mini trampoline, Elanza Steyl secured the Level 9 trophy and was recognised with the Clarissa Trophy for Most Improved Female Gymnast on Trampoline. Marlene Schulz, competing for Chalk Windhoek, won the Level 4 double-mini trampoline title, while Jessica Schlabitz claimed the Level 10 trampoline and Level 6 tumbling trophies.
Other national trophy winners included Amy van Zyl of Windhoek Trampoline Club, who won Level 5 trampoline, and JJ Snyders, who took the Level 8 double-mini trampoline title. In mini-trampoline, Walvis Bay’s Loide Nandago won the Level 1 trophy.
Special recognition also went to Mia Ann Bruyns, who received the Charlize van Zyl Trophy for Most Dedication, and Streicher Laas, who was awarded the Lance Potgieter Passion Trophy.
The overall national trophies were determined using accumulated scores from three qualifying competitions during the 2026 season, combined with double points awarded at the national finals.
With the domestic season concluded, qualified Namibian gymnasts will now prepare for the Region 5 Competition in South Africa on 4 and 5 December.
The results underline the Walvis Bay club’s contribution to developing gymnastics talent and providing athletes with a platform to excel at national level.
By Rudi Bowe
