You Can Do This... Gymnastics

Not only is it the best part of the Olympics; gymnastics-style training is something you can add to your workout now for body sculpting benefits that are so much more exciting than a medal. World champion gymnast Bianca Zoonekynd shows you how

- Michelle October

MEET THE ATHLETE: BIANCA ZOONEKYND

SHE’S THE WORLD CHAMP

In November last year, Bianca won gold at the Trampoline World Championships in Bulgaria. She executed a high difficulty, double mini trampoline routine just two months after a car accident left her incapacitated with broken ribs and a punctured lung. Her love for the sport is what helped her win. “When I was injured and not able to do anything, I used to sit and visualise all my routines,” she says. As soon as she was able to exercise, she took on scaled versions of her routines, working back up to the real thing.

SHE TEACHES KIDS 

When she’s not competing, Bianca teaches children. Her students also played a huge part in her recovery. “My kids were there and they were waiting for me to get back to the gym so that I could coach them,” she says. “They would motivate me and it helped me.”

SHE ALSO RACES RUBBER DUCKS

Not the bath kind. Inflatable rubber boats (IRBs) are rescue craft and power boats that are also used in racing. Bianca says gymnastics has made her better at this sport since it’s improved her endurance and reaction time to changing surf conditions.