Gymnastics South Africa prepares for its fourth exciting Skipnation challenge

Exciting news is on the horizon for Gymnastics South Africa as the highly anticipated Skipnation challenge approaches. Over the past three years, Skipnation has evolved into a nationwide movement, capturing the hearts and minds of school children and the wider community. With its focus on promoting physical activity, building sportsmanship, and introducing gymnastics to a broader audience, Skipnation has become a lifechanging initiative.

In 2021, Gymnastics South Africa embarked on a mission to improve the health and wellness of school children by launching the Skipnation Challenge. This initiative aimed to encourage exercise through rope skipping while stimulating young minds. The Rope Skipping in a Box program distributed skipping ropes and essential resources to more than 160 schools. These boxes became a tool for physical education, using rope skipping to inspire fitness and coordination.

Building on the success of the inaugural year, Gymnastics South Africa expanded the program in 2022. An additional 110 schools received Gymnastics in a Box, now enhanced with even more resources. In addition to skipping ropes and fitness curriculum, beginner tumbling, trampoline, and parkour materials were included. This expansion facilitated the active participation of schools in the program and provided a steppingstone for exploring various gymnastic disciplines.

This year there is a focus on rural sport development and growth in the more remote areas of the country. 26 Young Leaders were identified and activated in different districts of the nine provinces. The new leaders, aged between 18 and 27 years are equipped with a resources kit.

The new Gymnastics on the Move program and resource kit include a fitness and fundamental skills curriculum, testing tools, teaching aids and hand equipment to assist the qualified coaches with the promotion of gymnastics for all and the implementation of a variety of modified programs with a minimal amount of equipment.

As the Skipnation challenge gears up for its fourth run in 2024, anticipation is running high. The challenge is set to go virtual, allowing participants from across South Africa to showcase their rope skipping skills and speed remotely. This approach opens the challenge to schools and its community, clubs, and even the public, bringing the joy of gymnastics to a wider audience.

“Skipnation’s core aim is to get the youth active again, and to promote an active lifestyle through healthy and safe challenge. It is not merely a challenge; it is a movement that is making a lasting impact on the South African community,” said Marti Heri, Development and Education Manager of Gymnastics South Africa  “By underpinning the national roll-out of Gymnastics SA’s Gymnastics on the Move to all schools, Skipnation serves as a platform to promote youth fitness and introduce gymnastics to an even broader audience. Its overarching goal is to reach 25 000 schools by 2030, revolutionizing physical education and inspiring a new generation of gymnasts.”

While staying committed to the objective of expanding gymnastics and Skipnation to a wider audience, Gymnastics South Africa has extended a warm invitation to other countries to join the Skipnation challenge. “We are excited to welcome our neighbouring countries in Region 5, including Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Lesotho, Angola, and several other developing nations across the continent, to join the Skipnation Challenge to determine the fastest and fittest rope skippers in southern Africa.”

The growing success of Skipnation over the past three years is a testament to the power of collective effort and the boundless potential of young minds.