Gymnastics SA has confirmed that Buhle Nhleko recently claimed South Africa’s first and only gold medal by winning the vault final, beating compatriot Karma Visagie and Lewis, who picked up the minor medals at Heartfelt Arena in Tshwane.
Brackenhurst’s Buhle is a Grade 12 Marist Brothers Linmeyer learner whose heart was won over by gymnastics at a tender age. She started her gymnastics at the age of six with Alberton Gymnastic Club.
She then displayed great potential and talent and was later moved to Johannesburg Gymnastic Club to be groomed for international competitions.
She has participated in various international competitions representing her country exceptionally well, including the most recent competition against Wales, where she won a gold medal for vault, bronze medal for floor and silver for the team overall.
WATCH: A video showing Buhle Nhleko during one of her competitions
Her latest international travel was in 2022 when she travelled to Croatia, Osijek and competed in the Fig World Challenge Cup.
“I will travel to the United Kingdom in October to compete in Wales Challenge. My greatest desire is to represent South Africa in the Olympics and I’m working tirelessly to qualify. I aspire to become a physiotherapist. I would love to focus on treating patients with sports injuries and rehabilitating them,” explained Buhle.
Besides being at the gym six days a week, she mostly enjoys being with her friends and doing the things her peers do.
“Buhle would like to see more youth being involved in sports in general, though gymnastics is her preference.
Sport has afforded her personal growth and strength emotionally, physically and spiritually. Also, she has acquired various skills that most teens her age are battling with,” explained her mother Olga Nhleko.
Her mother described her as a very disciplined and focused child who has the world at her feet.
Buhle said she would enjoy being involved in growing the sport shortly.
“I would like to thank my parents that so diligently support me hugely financially. Soon, I would enjoy seeing more capital injected into gymnastics like any other professional sport,” she said.
Source: https://albertonrecord.co.za/?p=347986
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