Aerobic Gymnast Dominique Mann has taken the sport by storm ever since being persuaded to give it a try a few years ago.

Explaining how she became involved in the sport, the talented Mr Price SPORT athlete said she was approached by the National Aerobic Gymnastic head coach after her potential was recognised while performing at another gymnastics event.

“I had previously trained in artistic gymnastics and at the time was part of the girls SA Rhythmic Gymnastics squad. The National Aerobic Gymnastic head coach felt my body type and agility was very well suited to the sport. My artistic gymnastics had given me a lot of strength, and I was a strong dancer. I was very excited at the time and after one session I fell in love with the sport. I stood out above other competitors very soon, and I never looked back.”

Dominique has since gone on to record an array of achievements, having been named the sportswoman of the year at the Premier Sports Awards evening in 2007, while she was selected as the female South African Ambassador of Aerobic Gymnastics in 2008 and 2009.

She also currently holds the No 1 SA and African Aerobic Gymnastic champion title, and captained the World Champs team touring to France in 2010, which came two years after achieving her highest international ranking of third at the World Games qualifying event in Taiwan.

Furthermore, she has been named the SAGF Gymnast of the Year for 2007, 2009 and 2011, which is presented by the SA Gymnastics Federation to one gymnast, male or female, of any age, in all five disciplines (Artistic, Rhythmic, Aerobic, Trampolining and Tumbling).

Despite all her achievements, Dominique remains highly ambitious.

“My goals are to defend my title at the 2012 African Championships and to qualify and make a final at the 2014 World Champions for Aerobic Gymnastics. I have also developed a love for running through all the cross training I have done and I also see myself in that competition arena when I’ve hung up my gymnastics shoes.”

In the little spare time she has, Dominique forms part of the Sharkette squad that performs a number of dance routines before each of the Sharks’ home games.

“2012 is my sixth year as a Sharkette and I absolutely love being a part of the squad,” she said. “Not only do I enjoy supporting our local rugby team, but I love the rehearsals and dancing every Saturday with all my friends. We all work so well together and are excited to show the crowd our latest routine each week. I’m also very fortunate to have my two sisters in the Sharkette squad, which is very special!”