American by name but in Games for SA
He’s an American, but he’s also proudly South African, which is why gymnast Ryan Patterson will be competing in Rio under the SA flag.
|||Johannesurg - He’s an American, but he’s also proudly South African, which is why 22-year-old gymnast Ryan Patterson will be competing in the Rio Olympics under the South African flag.
Patterson sealed his qualification at the recent Rio Test event, scoring an all-round total of 82.932 to finish 44th.
He is twhe first male gymnast representing South Africa to qualify for the Olympic Games in more than 50 years.Patterson was 4 when his parents left South Africa and settled in the US.
He has a business degree from the University of California, Berkeley, but even with his American cred, he is proud to compete under the South African colours - “beyond excited” is how he put it. Rio will be an Olympics debut for Patterson, but this is the moment for which he has been working for most of his life.
“Growing up it was routine to say to people, ‘Yes, I’m going to the Olympics one day’ with a big smile - now I’ve made it,” says Patterson.
The years of hard work have, however, become tougher as the Rio Olympics have edged closer. “From the moment we were notified of qualification, it’s been hectic with training, but I am really enjoying it and extremely excited.”
While Patterson admits to being nervous before his Rio debut, he is confident of putting his best foot forward. “While I am going to enjoy the whole Olympic experience, once I set foot in the arena there is only one focus, doing the best I can in each routine,” he says.
“When I have that mindset, it is relatively easy to tune out the nerves and just compete.”Patterson is to compete in all six gymnastic events in the all-round competition.
These include vault and floor exercises.Although he’s aiming high, he remains mindful of the need to set realistic goals for Rio, so he won’t be distracted.
“Winning a medal would be an incredible achievement, but setting a final goal such as winning a medal is too outcome-based.”
For now, it’s just about making his Olympics debut count and using his training time wisely in run-up to the global sporting spectacle.
sameer.naik@inl.co.za
The Star