Bonteheuwel has gained a star after eight-year-old Tamika van As won a gold medal in a figure skating competition.
She received a hero's welcome when she arrived at Cape Town airport yesterday from Johannesburg.
She came first place in her age group at the South African Figure Skating Association Nationals last weekend.
Her proud mother Tarryn, 38, says all her daughter’s hard work has paid off.
“She started this when she was only three years old, when we went to watch her father’s table tennis team play at the Grand West Casino,” she says
“And she saw the skating rink and she kept insisting that we go back to it, until I discovered that there was a club which she could join.
“The coach provided private lessons and she has been competing ever since.”
Tarryn says figure skating costs a lot of money but her child loves it.
“If it’s not the shoes, it’s the lessons or outfit. But with Tamika, I could see that she loves it and during the lockdown we couldn’t afford to take her because of our financial situation, but this year she insisted she wants to go back.
Six weeks ago she won a provincial competition and then she went to the nationals.
“Just after she went back to skating, she qualified for the juvenile competitive section in the province and then she went to the national competition which she won.”
Bontas ward councillor Angus McKenzie was one of the people who went to the airport to welcome Tamika and said: “What an absolutely amazing achievement for Bonteheuwel!
“At her tender young age she has not just made South Africa proud, she has not just put Western Province first but she has shown that Bonteheuwel can continue to deliver gold!”