Van Rooyen fine-tunes Ekandjo for Worlds
Namibia’s rhythmic gymnast Emilia Ekandjo will leave for Germany on Sunday for her second consecutive World Championships appearance, with competition getting underway on Wednesday.
Ekandjo, who competes for Windhoek Rhythmic Club, will represent Namibia at the 42nd Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships from 12 to 16 August at Festhalle Frankfurt.
Her final preparations have included extra sessions with South African rhythmic gymnastics coach and choreographer Aimee van Rooyen, who was named Rhythmic Gymnastics Coach of the Year at the Gymnastics South Africa annual awards in July.
Ekandjo’s coach, Wietsa Snyman, said the additional input was sought to sharpen the Namibian’s routines before she takes on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
“I contacted [Van Rooyen] for extra advice, which led to a few sessions to improve Emilia’s routines for this event. As [her] coach, we will stick to this plan,” said Snyman, who is also the head coach of Windhoek Rhythmic Club.
Ekandjo will be accompanied by Snyman and Namibian Gymnastics Federation (NGF) rhythmic gymnastics president Britt Adonis-Byl.
‘I know what to expect’
Speaking to Sport Wrap before her departure, Ekandjo said her return to the world stage feels different now from when Namibia’s qualification was confirmed in May.
“In May, it was about celebrating the qualification and being proud that all the hard work had paid off, but now it feels much more real because we’re actually leaving and I’m preparing to step onto the world stage again,” she said.
“I’m excited, I have some nerves, but I also feel more prepared because I know what to expect and I know the environment I’m going into. I’m looking forward to representing Namibia, enjoying the experience and showing the best version of myself.”
This year’s Worlds will also serve as the first Olympic qualifying event on the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, as reported by this publication earlier.
Mental growth
Ekandjo said the biggest change in her preparation since last year’s World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has been the greater focus placed on the mental side of the sport.
“I’m still growing in that area, but I do feel more confident and better equipped this time to trust my preparation, manage my nerves and remind myself that I belong on that floor,” she said.
Snyman confirmed that Ekandjo’s emotional growth has been one of her biggest improvements since her first World Championships appearance.
“Emilia has grown [very strong emotionally], and this is an important factor for any big event such as the World Championship,” she said.
With the final training block complete, Snyman said the focus is now on keeping Ekandjo healthy and ready to reproduce her training work on the competition floor.
“Now, we focus on doing our best. It takes a talented, well-balanced and strong gymnast to compete internationally, and Emilia shows this right now,” she said.
‘Believe in yourself’
Ekandjo said she hopes her journey can encourage younger gymnasts in Namibia to remain committed to the sport.
“I would tell them to keep believing in themselves and to enjoy the journey. Rhythmic gymnastics is not always easy, and there will be challenges and moments where things don’t go as planned, but those moments help you grow and become stronger,” she said.
“Never be afraid to dream big and work towards those dreams.”
Ekandjo said she hopes her journey will inspire young gymnasts to enjoy the process and believe they can achieve their own goals.
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