Biographical Information

Rhythmic Gymnastics started in Namibia in 1992. In the capital, Windhoek, two girls who did ballet, started to dance with the ribbon, although there were no set routines or no structure. Early in 1993 a group of Russian gymnasts toured Namibia. A few girls, mostly artistic girls, were invited to attend a workshop with these gymnasts, first in Windhoek and then in Swakopmund, a coastal town.

In Swakopmund the Swakopmund Gymnastics Club, under the management of Mrs. Valereis Geldenhuys, now President of the Namibian Gymnastics Federation and also Member of the F.I.G. for Africa, decided to open a rhythmic gymnastics section in the club.

One of the club’s artistic gymnasts, Anel Botes, was recommended to change to rhythmic gymnastics, on account of her flexibility. Melissa van As, another artistic gymnast, started to do rhythmic gymnastics with her. There were no coaches for rhythmic gymnastics at that stage and a physical training teacher was asked to help the two girls. This relationship held for three month due to a heavy workload.

Mrs. Leonie Botes, mother of Anel, who was coaching the beginner classes in artistic gymnastics at that stage, made herself available to coach the rhythmic gymnasts. By this time there were five girls doing rhythmic gymnastics.

As Namibia is the neighbouring country to South Africa, it was decided by the Federation that Namibia would follow the same programs as in South Africa.

The first programs were for girls’ u/10 a ribbon routine and for girls over 10 ribbon and hoop. The first year Namibia went to South Africa and Anel obtained a third place for girls under 10 and Melissa a fifth place for girls over 10.

As the coaches had no background of Rhythmic gymnastics what so ever, they learned the routines together with the gymnasts from the video send by South Africa. In 1994 Mrs. Anet Nel from South Africa, came to Namibia and the coaches did a Novice Judging course so that they could learn the elements.

The gymnasts grew and in Swakopmund Mrs. Melany van As also started to coach and judge. At the end of 1994, after receiving a bronze at the Commonwealth Games, Miss Joanne Walker from England came to Namibia to coach the Rhythmic gymnasts.

1996 Help! We are strangled by our coach.

Jo Walker and Anel, Carmen and Melissa

In 1995 there was a break through in gymnastics in Africa, when the FIRST JUNIOR AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS were held in Namibia. Both Leonie Botes and Melany van As did a National Judging course presented by Mrs. Nel and had to judge execution at that competition, as Namibia had to present judges.

All this time the rhythmic section was still part of the Swakopmund Gymnastics Club.

1997:

Our own club, a new leotard and tracksuit

In 1997, Leonie Botes and a few parents decided to start a

Rhythmic Gymnastics Club

separately from the Artistic club,

due to a lack of space and a shortage of practice time.

The club started as the Rhythmic Gymnastics Club, (RGC)

and was under Leonie’s management until the end of 2001.

RGC started off with 9 gymnasts in 1997 and had 24 gymnasts at the end of 2001

of which 6 were in the Namibia National Squad.

In June Melany van As and Leonie Botes received their Brevet

International Judges Licences

Leonie and Melany –Brevet Judges 1997

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