Moving into an older age category did little to interrupt Atang Botshelo Rampagane’s run of national tumbling results.

The Curro Mahikeng Grade 9 learner represented North West at the 2026 Gymnastics South Africa National Championships in Bellville, where he finished second in the Level 8, 15–16 male tumbling competition.

His silver medal follows a national title two years earlier, when he won the Level 8, 13–14 category at the 2024 SA Gym Games.

The latest result therefore marks another step in an established competitive record as Atang moves through the age groups.

Two passes decide the podium

Atang competed at the Bellville Velodrome on 24 September during the trampoline and tumbling section of the national championships.

Tumbling differs from traditional floor gymnastics. Athletes perform a rapid sequence of acrobatic elements along a sprung track, with judges considering the difficulty and execution of each run.

Atang recorded scores of 16.70 and 17.40 for his two passes, giving him an overall total of 34.10.

That placed him second nationally behind Gauteng’s Delightful Shongwe, who scored 39.50. Atang finished 0.70 points ahead of the two North West gymnasts immediately behind him, Botlhale Mokwena and Aobakwe Seleka, who each scored 33.40.

Building on earlier national success

The Bellville result adds to several seasons of competitive tumbling for Atang.

In 2024, he represented North West in the younger Level 8, 13–14 division at the SA Gym Games and won the national title with a score of 35.50.

That same year, he also won his category at the Tumble Mania Challenge while competing for Mmabana Mahikeng. Mmabana records show that he had already earned gold at the competition in 2023.

His 2026 silver therefore came after moving into the 15–16 age group, where he again reached the national podium.

Another national finish for North West

The wider 2026 Gymnastics South Africa National Championships ran from 23 September to 4 October across the Western Cape, Gauteng and North West. The trampoline and tumbling programme took place in Bellville from 24 to 27 September.

For Curro Mahikeng, Atang’s result adds another national placing to a record that now stretches across several competition seasons.

The school celebrated his second-place finish and the way he continues to represent both Curro Mahikeng and North West.

Two years after standing at the top of the national podium in the 13–14 division, Atang has stepped into an older category and put himself back among the medal positions.