Gymnasts from Rising Stars Gymnastics (RSG) and Walvis Bay Gymnastics Club (WBGC) delivered impressive performances at the 2026 Namibia Gymnastics Federation (NGF) National Championships, earning top overall positions and multiple gold and silver score-band awards across men’s artistic gymnastics (MAG).
Held from 9 to 11 October at Crete Gymnastics Club in Windhoek, the championships brought together gymnasts from across Namibia to compete for national honours.
WBGC’s Daniel PE Jacksch emerged as one of the standout performers in Level 2, winning the 11-to-14 age category with an all-around total of 44.85 points. Rising Stars athletes Tristan Maritz and Messias Gabriel finished second and third respectively, giving the two coastal clubs a clean sweep of the top three positions.
WBGC also celebrated victories in the younger Level 2 categories, with Luhandré Botes winning among seven-year-olds with 44.2 points, while Xander Lourens du Toit topped the eight-year-old category with 43.2 points. Zander van Staden finished third in the nine-to-10 age group with 42.65 points.
The club’s success continued in Level 3, where Chalton Ipinge claimed first place in the 11-to-12 category with 45.8 points. Rising Stars also secured a Level 3 victory through Meameno Lineekela Mikka, who topped the 13-to-15 age group with 41.95 points. In Level 4, WBGC’s Josh Nicolaas Oosthuizen won the 11-to-12 category with 45.483 points, while Darius Botes finished second among gymnasts aged nine to 10 with 52.208 points.
Rising Stars also made its mark in the senior competitive divisions. Whitlynn Cloete claimed first place in the FIG Junior category for gymnasts aged 14 to 17 with an all-around total of 57.283 points. Geofry Pitt finished third with 52.017 points, while Dantago Horaeb placed fourth with 49.317 points.
In the FIG Senior category, Romio Garoeb finished second overall with 49.467 points, adding to Rising Stars’ strong showing in the higher levels. The clubs also recorded notable results on individual apparatus. On the parallel bars, WBGC’s Daniel PE Jacksch scored 9.000 in Level 2, while Luhandré Botes, Xander Lourens du Toit and Zander van Staden also earned gold score-band awards.
Rising Stars’ Tukwafa Nadipite Mikka scored 8.400 for gold, while Tristan Maritz achieved 8.600. In Level 3, WBGC’s Chalton Ipinge scored 9.350, with Rising Stars gymnasts Freddrick Hamukonda and Meameno Lineekela Mikka earning gold awards with 8.700 and 8.650 respectively.
On the high bar, Botes recorded an impressive 9.550, while Ipinge scored 9.300 in Level 3. Rising Stars’ Lucky Divai also stood out with 9.150 in Level 3, while Whitlynn Cloete and Geofry Pitt earned gold score-band awards in the FIG Junior division.
The results underline the progress made by both clubs throughout the season, with athletes delivering strong performances across age groups, developmental levels and senior competition.
For Rising Stars and WBGC, the championships provided an opportunity to measure their progress against the country’s leading gymnasts while showcasing the dedication of their athletes and coaches to the continued growth of artistic gymnastics in Namibia.
By Rudi Bowe
