Hercules on top despite injury | Taranaki Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Taranaki

Talented Stratford gymnast, Hercules Swart, has proved his worth as a Taranaki representative at the New Zealand National Gymnastics Championships held in late September, placing fourth overall, despite competing with a broken toe.

Hercules injured his toe the Friday before he left for nationals but was determined to compete and hoped to achieve his personal goal of scoring an average of 8.5 on each apparatus.

Pitted against the countries best male gymnasts, Hercules pulled out all the stops, scoring an impressive 9.1 on the vault as well as obtaining a high average which not only satisfied his goal, but earned him a proficiency pin, an honour given to few gymnasts.

Overall in the Level 6 competition, he placed 4th on floor, 5th on pommel horse, 7th on rings, 3rd on vault, 4th on parallel bar and 5th on high bar and accumulated 51.525 points.

Local, Louise Lang also went to nationals representing Taranaki as part of a team made up of three other gymnasts. Louise's spot on the Taranaki team was hard-earned.

She had to rank well at three regional competitions to be considered and thanks to great performances all round, she gained the coveted Taranaki leotard.

The level 5 gymnast did well against nearly 60 other girls from around the country and she and her coach Bronwyn Cleland were both happy with her results.

Pictured is Local gymnast Hercules Swart manipulating his body around the pommel horse.