Zandré Labuschagne Makes History in South African Gymnastics
December 18, 2006 by Sasha Manuel
Filed under Sports Rumors
“South Africa’s first Olympic gymnast in 44 years, Zandré Labuschagne, now a “freshman” (first-year student) at the University of Illionois-Chicago (UIC), has become the first SA woman gymnast to be invited to take part in a World Cup event.”
It was for the vault event in Gymnastics World Cup that was held over the weekend in Brazil. The article stated that the invite came a bit late so Labuschagne couldn’t take part in the Cup and there were no word as to why no other South African was invited to fill in her shoes.
It was also stated that Russia’s multiple world vault-champion and four-time Olympic medallist Elena Zamolodchikova, her compatriot Anna Pavlova, and Cheng Fei of China were few of the strong contenders in the event.
Labuschagne competed in the last 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, only by winning the African wild card but she’s set to qualify in absolute for the 2008 Olympics Games in Beijing.
She will be joining Commonwealth bronze medallist Franki van Rooyen in South Africa for the 2007 World Championships trials, where she’ll be facing Candice Cronjé, Chanel Moonsammy and Rinette Whelpton. This event is a qualifier for the Olympics.
Anyway, you read the news article. As for me, I still can’t get over the part wherein it said “in 44 years”… Gah.
Source: Citizen
Zandre Labuschagne was a terrific ambassador for South Africa at the Athens Games and continues to do her country proud as she shines for the UIC Gymnastics Team in Chicago where she will be a college Senior (4th year student) this Fall (Aug 2008).