Caitlin Rooskrantz is hunting for the biggest results of her career. The two-time Olympian is looking for a better Commonwealth Games finish and a run at the 2026 World Championships, as per an exclusive interview with SABC Sport.

The uneven bars specialist takes an important step forward with a silver medal at the African Artistic Championships in Cameroon. After the Paris Olympics, she has taken a step forward with a silver medal at the African Artistic Championships.

Rooskrantz finished second behind Olympic champion Kaylia Nemour of Algeria. She also set a new personal best score on the day.

The result has given Rooskrantz confidence ahead of a busy season that includes the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships.

Soon after Paris, the Commonwealth Games became her main target, Rooskrantz told SABC Sport.

“Coming into this year, after I came back from Paris, the main reason I came back was that I actually wanted to go for Commonwealth again, to try and see if I could better my result,” Rooskrantz said.

“And that has been at the forefront of my goals since I've come back. That was the biggest goal for this year.”

Rooskrantz has already booked her spot in South Africa’s Commonwealth Games squad. Now she hopes to improve on the bronze medal she won on uneven bars at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The performance was historic as she became the first South African gymnast to win a Commonwealth Games medal on the apparatus.

“My big goal is to try and better my medal placing at the Commonwealth Games,” she said.

The 23-year-old also has her sights set on the World Championships and hopes to break into the top eight in the uneven bars.

“I obviously managed to walk away with a bronze. Looking back now at how much I've improved since then, it gives me a lot of hope. So I'm hoping to see if I can edge closer and closer to that top eight in the world on the bar,” she added.

She believes her recent progress, particularly on the apparatus, gives her a real chance to challenge higher-ranked gymnasts.

Stronger Routines and Growing Confidence Fuel Medal Hopes for Caitlin Rooskrantz

Caitlin Rooskrantz enters the new season with more experience and more momentum than she had four years ago. She’s continued to improve her execution and difficulty since Birmingham, especially on uneven bars, which is still her best event.

The growth was reflected in Rooskrantz's latest silver medal. The opportunity to compete against the reigning Olympic champion Nemour has also given her a benchmark going into the Commonwealth Games and Worlds.

With her qualification done and confidence building, Rooskrantz now enters the biggest stretch of her season. She is gearing up with the belief that a silver—or maybe even gold—medal is within her grasp.

Read more at the Gymnastics Digest!

Written by

Chitrak Mukherjee

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit