What is a Grand Prix Event?
Grand Prix is a structured, yet friendly performance test regularly offered by the Club to showcase the progress of our gymnasts.
It plays a vital role in preparing gymnasts for competitions and forms an important part of our overall development pathway.
Grand Prix is available to all beginner and novice gymnasts across all disciplines.
Gymnasts who do not participate in competitions are required to attend at least four Grand Prix events per year (one per term).
Gymnasts who do compete are required to attend three Grand Prix events per year.
The Club typically offers 5–6 Grand Prix events annually, providing ample opportunity to complete the required number.
Rewards & Year-End Medals
At each Grand Prix event, gymnasts receive a badge (button) in recognition of their effort and achievement.
At the end of the year, gymnasts who have completed their required number of Grand Prix events will receive a Year-End Medal.
Our younger gymnasts follow a structured badge progression system to ensure strong foundational development.
🟢 GREEN Badge
New gymnasts typically begin with the Green Badge.
🔵 BLUE Badge
Once the Green Badge has been successfully completed, the gymnast progresses to the Blue Badge.
Before moving into Level 1 in a chosen gymnastics discipline, the Red Badge must be completed.
This system ensures careful skill development while building confidence step by step.
Competitive Programme within Grand Prix
Level 1–3: Testing and Moving Up through Levels
Level 1–3 gymnasts are tested according to the skills prescribed by Gymnastics South Africa for the level they are training toward.
It is very important to understand that gymnastics levels do not work like school grades. A gymnast does not automatically move up just because the season is over. A gymnast only formally progresses to the next level when they have mastered and can consistently and safely perform all the skills required for that level.
This means that a gymnast can be an exceptional Level 1 athlete, winning medals and scoring highly, and still remain in Level 1 for another year to fully develop all the skills needed for Level 2. This is completely normal — and smart!
You may notice that some gymnasts start training and testing skills for the next level, but for competition purposes, they may still compete in their previous level. This is done to:
- Build competition confidence
- Ensure they are fully prepared for the challenges of the next level
- Allow extra time to refine all necessary skills
The focus is never on rushing through levels, but on building a strong foundation that will carry them safely and successfully all the way to the top.
As competition season approaches, Grand Prix results may be used to determine if a gymnast is ready to compete at the next level. Generally, gymnasts need to achieve 90–100% across all events/apparatus to be considered competition-ready.
If a gymnast is not yet fully prepared, repeating the previous level is not a failure. It is a valuable opportunity to build confidence, strength, and excellence before moving forward.
During competition season, gymnasts are already participating in official competitions and may therefore skip that term’s Grand Prix event. If they choose to attend, they will be tested on their competition routines rather than the standard level skills.
Join Us at the Next Grand Prix!
Grand Prix is more than a test — it is a celebration of growth, discipline, and perseverance.
We look forward to seeing all our gymnasts proudly showcasing their progress.
Be sure to send us a photo of your gymnast with their Grand Prix rewards — we love celebrating their achievements!