Young spark, bright future

ILAN HERRMANN

It all started when Livya insisted that she wanted to go with her sister one evening to have some fun at gymnastics, which ended with the coach asking her parents if Livya could immediately be slotted into the team and competition stream.

That was last year, one in which she went on to win two silver and two bronze medals in her first regional encounter.

The seven and a half year old from Hirsch Lyons School, made her mark again in the recent Central Gauteng Challenge. She won one silver and three bronze medals in the four disciplines of floor, beam, vault and bar. Livya claimed the distinction of third overall best gymnast.

She was nominated with Junior Gauteng colours and named for the Gauteng A team, both for the second year running. The biggest challenge, however, is yet to come with her having been put forward for the inter-provincial meeting in September.

She is passionate about her training and thrives on competition. Her parents are delighted and feel that the exercise, discipline and challenges she receives through her sport, are tools that help build both character and esteem.

Being a Shomeret Shabbat family, the complexity in the very seldom occurrence of a Shabbat coinciding event, has been negotiated through careful planning to ensure walking proximity to location and avoidance of all prohibitions.

It’s not every day that a talent emerges that is so clearly marked with sporting grace and giftedness at such a tender age. And while it’s early days yet, a young spark may have been awoken with a very bright future.

Noah is world karate champion at six

ILAN HERRMANN

Young Noah Maisel from Cape Town at the tender age of six, is the world champion in karate for his division, after competing in the KSI World Karate Championships held in Sun City earlier this month.

Participants came from 27 different countries, with Noah beingwas pooled in a group of 50 athletes which he successfully qualified through with six fights, all won by knockout.

His toughest opposition came in the semi-finals against the Danish champion, with the contest, after regular time, ending in a draw. This led to sudden death; the winner would be decided by whomever scored the first point.

Noah at 24kg was the lightest and smallest of all the fighters in the competition. His show of nerve and inner strength under immensely stressful conditions, was a factor throughout the tournament.

So, what happened? The youngster astonished the thousand-strong spectators with a skillful and audacious “Ippon” by a kick to the head, falling short of contact. Two points were scored which won him through to the final, where he eventually took gold and the world title.

Noah is a first Kyu brown belt, one removed from black. His strength is in his kick and his speed. He was born tiny at 800grams and usually comes up against fighters who are often far bigger and heavier than him – but they have never intimidated him.

Noah attends Herzlia School in Cape Town and is recognised byhis peers and his school for his achievements. He models his karate on world champion Rafael Aghayev from Azerbaijan.

His parents are grateful that he is gaining valuable disciplines through karat, which his father calls “a schooling in life and character”.