Motoring
Superster gimnas van weleer gesels oor haar loopbaan
Lydia Kruger (formerly Venter) holds the record for being the youngest person to achieve Springbok colors, starting her high school career at Hoërskool Waterkloof in 1983 at the age of 12, with her first Springbok blazer already in her wardrobe.
This followed her participation in sports from a young age, earning junior Springbok colors in trampolining at the age of 9. Further Springbok blazers were obtained in Tumbling (1983) and Acro Gymnastics (1986), officially making her a triple Springbok. She toured overseas almost annually between 1982 and 1988, securing Springbok colors multiple times as a gymnast and claiming the national champion title thrice.
At the peak of her career, media speculation arose that she could become the first South African to achieve a perfect ’10’ in a competition, notably excelling in her floor routines.
Reflecting on her career, Kruger mentioned the fortunate opportunity they had to compete internationally in gymnastics during the political boycott years when many other sports faced restrictions. Gymnastics managed to regularly compete internationally, with countries like the United States, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria sending teams to tour South Africa, while the Springbok team also visited destinations such as England, Germany, and Israel.
The 1980s marked a golden era for gymnastics in South Africa, with significant media exposure and international events being broadcast on national television.
In the past 20 years since 2004, only five South African gymnasts qualified for the Olympics on four occasions, none reaching the final rounds. This raises questions about Kruger’s potential performance at the Olympics during her prime in 1984.
When asked about her capabilities at that time, Kruger modestly suggested she could have podium opportunities in her favorite events – the beam and floor routines. She recalled outperforming the renowned American gymnast Mary-Lou Retton in the floor routine during that period. Retton later won five medals at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Kruger remains one of South Africa’s most decorated sports stars, receiving the State President’s Sports Merit award in 1987 from then-President PW Botha. After announcing her retirement in 1988, she was honored by Tukkies as their Sportswoman of the Year and later recognized as the female gymnast of the 20th century by Gymnastics Gauteng-North.
While retiring from gymnastics at the age of 18, Kruger pursued a BCom degree in Marketing at Tukkies. She later married her high school sweetheart, Cornell Kruger, with whom she found success in the real estate industry. Unfortunately, Lydia lost her husband earlier this year to a heart attack.
The marriage blessed them with two children. Their eldest, Lindelie, resides in America, while their son, Ben, is settled in the Netherlands. Lydia is also a proud grandmother of two grandchildren, with a third on the way.
Although she continues her work as a real estate agent, Kruger plans to visit her children overseas more frequently in the future.
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