Cape Town - Mere days after a successful World Games competition in Poland, South Africa’s top tumbling and trampoline gymnast Bianca Zoonekynd can count herself lucky to be alive after a car crash in Port Elizabeth.
According to the SASCOC website, Zoonekynd, 25, ended fifth in the double-mini trampoline final in Wroclaw, and seventh in the tumbling discipline.
She also took part in the previous World Games in Cali, Colombia four years ago.
True to her caring nature, Zoonekynd was on her way to console a friend who had in turn received some bad personal news of her own.
The accident happened around 15km from the family home in Theescombe.
‘We think she swerved for a buck and lost control,’ said mom and coach Mandy.
‘The car rolled about four times and she was flung out of the car.’
Zoonekynd is recuperating in hospital with two broken ribs and a punctured lung and there’s no doubting her years and years of fitness and flexibility training stood her in good stead in her time of need.
The Zoonekynd family are no strangers to tragedy with the family house having been razed to the ground two years ago.