Young, up-and-coming gymnast Tinashe Marcelle Rivombo seems to have been born for the sport. By the age of five, she had already fallen in love with gymnastics.
Her mother, Radio Thohoyandou station manager Mpho Zazi Makosholo, recalls how difficult it was to stop her from practising on the walls of their home while honing her skills. Today, at just eight years old, the Makwarela youngster — a member of the Wavhudi Gymnastics Centre in Thohoyandou — is fast making a name for herself in the sport.
Tinashe's first competition this year was at the Louis Trichardt district championships, where she excelled and qualified for the next round, the Limpopo provincial competition. That event was held in Thabazimbi in August, where she brought home a silver medal.
She went on to qualify for the inter-district competition in Johannesburg, where she won another silver medal. Her achievements also earned her eligibility for half colours.
Her mother is full of praise for her dedication. "She is a gymnast at heart and she is so happy and proud for putting Wavhudi Gymnastics on the map. Tinashe watches gymnastics shows on TV daily and her future plan is to continue with gymnastics and enter all the competitions, both national and international. She tells me she wants to go far with the sport and to one day own her own gymnastics club," she said.
Makosholo said her daughter's commitment was unwavering. "She cries when she is sick and still wants to go to practice — that is how important it is to her. As a parent, I will keep on supporting her and be there for her. I will provide all the resources for her to go far and reach her goals," she said.