Meet the Team

Shirley Watson Shirley achieved her Academic Matric certificate with university entrance. She then went on to get a higher diploma in Education for secondary school (Wits) in 1987. She then left teaching to pursue a career in Coaching Gymnastics. She worked at clubs such as Goudstad Gymnastics Club under the leadership of Nelli Cameron who has produced several Springbok gymnasts. When the top gymnasts at Goudstad were invited to the National Training centre Shirley then went on to coach at Gymnastics Unlimited. She has recently re-qualified as a Brevet International Sports Aerobics Judge, moving up to Category 3 level, as well as achieving the Federation of International Gymnastics level 3 qualification. (This is the highest level a coach could achieve in South Africa.) In 1998 Shirley registered the company Shirley Watson’s Gymnastics T/A Gymkidz. She also works for Johannesburg Gymnastics Centre coaching young talented gymnasts as well as Olympic level gymnasts. Shirley has traveled abroad for many International competitions both as a coach and a judge. The highlight being when she was awarded her Junior Protea colours for African Championships in 2006. Shirley was elected as chairperson of Central Gauteng Gymnastics in 2002 and has held the position ever since. She has now also been elected onto the board of the South African Gymnastics Federation. Shirley believes that Gymkidz and Gymnastics work hand in hand. She believes that her Gymkidz organization should identify talent and feeds it to the clubs to be developed. This way the children with talent have the opportunity to develop to their maximum.
	Gayle Smith Gayle matriculated from Mondeor High School, and achieved her Provincial Gymnastics colours every year for 11 years. She received the following SAGF qualifications: Kid X course, SAGF Level 1 and 2. Gayle has a Diploma in Child Day Care, as well as one in Child Psychology. Gayle attended the Integrated Learning Therapy Course in 2006 and has worked for Gymkidz for the past 13 years.
	Antoinette Le Roux Antoinette matriculated at Hoerskool Vorentoe in 1997. After school she did her Pre-school Diploma in teaching and started coaching at Gymkidz in 2000. She completed General Sport’s leader's course, level 1 and 2 in coaching and judging. Antoinette completed the Integrated Learning therapy (ILT) in 2006. She has received Gauteng colours in coaching as well as judging. Antoinette is the head coach at North Stars Gymnastics Club in Parkhurst.
	Themba Lephuthing Themba has a wide variety of qualifications ranging from Sports aerobics to rope skipping, trampoline and artistic coaching. He now is very involved with the South African federation in the training department training new coaches and judges throughout Southern Africa (Zimbabwe, Namibia and Swaziland) Themba has a Diploma in Sports Management and a Certificate in sports administration. He has recently re-qualified as a Brevet International Sports Aerobics Judge, moving up to Category 3 level, and will be representing South Africa in France in May 2009. Themba runs his own club Naledi in Soweto and has been on the Central Gauteng committee for the past 6 years.
Gloria Whitehair Gloria joined the company in 2002 after running a successful home industry company. She started out working only 3 days a week for Gymkidz but soon realised that the job demanded a 5 day week. Gloria handles all the administration duties as well as the account queries.
	Wiseman Thwala Wiseman joined the Gymkidz team in January 2009 and presently coaches at Crawford College in Benmore, North Stars and a number of pre-schools. He also currently coaches at Gymmagic where he is an instructor/coach since 2010. Qualifications: 1998 - GSL 1999 – Level I coaches course 2000 – Level II coaches course 2001 – Judges Level I course 2003 – Judges Level II course 2005 – Completed FIG Lev I (federation at International Gym coaches course) 2008 – MI First Aid course 2009 – FIG Level II (19 – 23 October 2009)
	Mpumi Kgomo Mpumi passed her matric and has a general sports coach certificate, First aid course and is currently working towards her Level 1 sports specific qualification in gymnastics.
	Melissa Davids Melissa is a professional dancer and has been working for Gymkidz for the past 4 years. She is currently working towards her level 1 qualification and is a GL coach. Whilst pregnant last year she continued to work for Gymkidz and gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on 26 December 2010. She is back at work and coping well.
	Jessica Davids Jessica has been working for Gymkidz for the past 3 years. She matriculated in 2005 at Westbury Secondary School. She has a CTI computer qualification and a Microsoft Excel course. Jessica has a GL qualification for gymnastics.
	Palesa Bolofo From 2002 to 2004 Palesa was Gymnast of the Year at Alberton Gymnastics Club. In 2004 she was part of the winning gymnastics Gauteng team at the SA Games. She won the 2004 Ekurhuleni Achievers Sport Award for Gymnastics and Tumbling. From 2008 to 2010 she was chairperson of the Wits University Sports Council. In 2009 she qualified as a South African International Judge. She is also a GL and National Judge. Palesa has been coaching for Gymkidz since 2009 and is currently working towards her Level 1 sports specific qualification in gymnastics.