Ekandjo set for World Champs return
Namibia’s rhythmic gymnast Emilia Ekandjo, who last year ended the country’s ten-year wait for the World Championships, is once again poised for the global stage in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, in August.
Her participation at last year’s 41st Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, made her the first Namibian gymnast at the event since Nicole Bierbach competed at the 33rd edition in Turkey in 2014.
Ekandjo will rub shoulders with some of the world’s best rhythmic gymnasts, with about 250 to 300 athletes from more than 60 countries expected for the senior 42nd edition from 12 to 16 August.
This year’s Worlds are also the first Olympic qualification event for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, for both individual and group events.
The Namibian Gymnastics Federation (NGF) rhythmic section has confirmed that Namibia qualified for the Worlds after being allocated one individual spot through participation at the 20th African Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships held earlier this month in South Africa.
In earlier reports by this publication, NGF rhythmic coordinator Britt Adonis-Byl confirmed to Sport Wrap that the African championships formed part of three events staged together.
The event served as the Junior African Championships, Senior African Championships and the Oceania Continental Championships.
Qualified African nations
World Gymnastics confirmed Namibia’s one-gymnast entry right alongside South Africa, Angola, Tunisia, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Algeria and Zimbabwe, while Egypt secured Africa’s sole two-to-three gymnast allocation.
Adonis-Byl said Ekandjo’s selection was based on the highest results achieved by Team Namibia at the championships in South Africa.
Ekandjo competed at the qualifying event alongside Kayla Duchaine and Joy Kabooy in the senior division, with the team finishing fifth overall.
The junior division comprised April Hamutele, Jana Risser, Gabriella Mouton and Meggi Shiweda, who also finished fifth overall.
Adonis-Byl said the country’s back-to-back qualification for the biggest stage in the sport is a testament to the NGF’s active efforts to provide athletes, judges and coaches with the experience needed to uplift rhythmic gymnastics.
‘We can make it if we try’
She also cautioned that grace should be extended when comparing Namibia’s level in the sport with the rest of the world.
“One has to understand that you cannot compare our participation to the level of European countries,” she noted.
“However, Emilia’s [Ekandjo] participation in Rio was pivotal in showcasing our country on the world stage and also showing those at home that we can make it if we try.”
Adonis-Byl further indicated that Ekandjo’s experience from Brazil has pushed the NGF to work harder in assisting its athletes with mental health.
“This was a huge challenge for her [at the previous World Championships]. But again, this has to do with getting that international exposure,” she remarked.
The federation welcomes any financial support to assist Ekandjo’s journey to Germany, noting that raising all the funds is no easy feat.
“We’re also making sure she has all the help in training and mental health concerns,” said Adonis-Byl.
Consistency and belief
Speaking to Sport Wrap about how she secured back-to-back qualification to the global showpiece, Windhoek Rhythmic Club’s Ekandjo said it all came down to consistency and believing that her previous qualification was not a fluke.
“After Rio, I didn’t let myself rest on that achievement. I sat with my coach [Wiesta Snyman] and told her I would like to go to Worlds again. We reviewed what worked and immediately set new goals,” she noted.
Ekandjo said she has since learned how to navigate her mental health, which has helped her stay focused and resilient while treating every training session like a qualifier.
“[I have also learned that] nerves never disappear. You just learn to perform with them. In Frankfurt, I will focus less on scores and more on executing movement with confidence,” she said.
‘I will enjoy the journey’
Ekandjo indicated that last year’s focus was heavily on physical preparation, while this year’s build-up has shifted more towards mental training, such as visualisation, breathing exercises and mock competition scenarios.
“I plan on enjoying the journey. Another change is involving my physiotherapist more closely in my training load management to prevent flare-ups that disrupted my rhythm last season,” she noted.
Performance-wise, she wants to hit clean, complete routines without major drops or costly deductions, while improving her overall performance from Brazil.
“I want to walk off that floor proud, knowing I gave everything I had, regardless of placement.
“I will also try to absorb everything, watch how top gymnasts warm up, handle mistakes and carry themselves. That knowledge will fuel me for years to come, whether I qualify again or not,” she remarked.
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