Matthew Bosch
Gqeberha – Matthew Bosch has been selected to represent South Africa at the 2025 Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships in Pamplona, Spain, where the 25-year-old from Gqeberha will compete in individual and synchronised trampoline events at the prestigious Navarra Arena.
Bosch, a rising star in South African trampoline gymnastics, expressed his excitement about the opportunity during an interview with Eyewitness News on September 18, 2025. The athlete, who trains at Mandy’s School of Tumbling & Trampoline in Port Elizabeth, sees the selection as a chance to shine on the global stage. “I always feel honoured to be selected to participate in World Champs, to represent my country and to show the rest of the world that we are also capable and deserve a spot on the world stage,” said Bosch. With two previous appearances at the World Championships under his belt, where he reached the semi-finals in double mini-trampoline and trampoline, Bosch is aiming higher this time. “So this year I would like to achieve a final or place on the podium for Double Mini, and I would like to make a semi-final for trampoline,” he added, reflecting his determination to build on past successes.
The 38th FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships, scheduled from November 6 to 9, 2025, at the Navarra Arena in Pamplona, Spain, will feature a mix of thrilling disciplines including individual and synchronised trampoline, tumbling, and double mini-trampoline events. This edition marks the debut of a new mixed synchronised trampoline event, where 16 fresh world champions will be crowned across categories. Forty-seven national federations are sending teams, making it one of the most competitive fields yet. For Bosch and his teammates – including Bianca Zoonekynd, Lenita Kotze, Leolin Petersen, and Jordan Booysen – it’s a golden chance to showcase South African talent against the best in the world. Gymnastics South Africa announced the squad on September 13, 2025, highlighting Bosch’s consistent performances, such as his standout 56.8 score in double mini at the 2023 Championships in Birmingham, UK, which landed him in the semi-finals.
Bosch’s Journey: From Local Roots to Global Heights
Hailing from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape, Bosch, 25, discovered his passion for trampoline gymnastics at Mandy’s School of Tumbling & Trampoline, where he also coaches young talents. His path hasn’t been without hurdles – a torn hamstring forced him out of the 2021 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, teaching him resilience. “One of the biggest lessons I have learned from the sport is to never give up,” Bosch shared, crediting that setback for sharpening his focus. Since then, he’s rebounded strongly, posting the highest-scoring pass in the prelims at the 2023 Worlds and competing in events like the 2024 African Championships in Bizerte, Tunisia, and the FIG World Cup in Baku.
Bosch’s versatility shines across disciplines: in trampoline, he combines height with precision for routines that wow judges, while his double mini-trampoline skills – flipping off a mini-tramp and landing on a larger one – earned him a 12th-place qualification in 2023. At the 2024 African Championships, he teamed with Jordan Booysen for a strong showing, helping South Africa secure medals in team events. “Matt is the only South African to have landed the 11th Canadian Special ever performed,” noted a recent Instagram post from Gymnastics South Africa, celebrating his technical prowess. With coaches Lee Budler and Mandy Zoonekynd in his corner, Bosch is honing new combinations for Pamplona, including advanced twists and somersaults that could push him towards the podium.
2025 Championships: A Debut for Mixed Synch and New Champions
The Pamplona event, hosted at the modern Navarra Arena with a capacity of 9,500, promises high-flying action from November 6 to 9. This 38th edition of the FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships will crown champions in individual trampoline (men and women), synchronised trampoline, tumbling, and double mini-trampoline, with the exciting addition of mixed synchronised trampoline making its debut. Sixteen new world titles are up for grabs, drawing top talents from 47 nations in a festival of flips, twists, and aerial artistry. The junior and World Age Group competitions follow from November 13 to 16, ensuring a week of non-stop excitement.
For South Africa, the championships represent a chance to build on recent successes, like the team’s strong performance at the 2023 Worlds in Birmingham, where Bosch reached semis in double mini. Gymnastics South Africa views Pamplona as a stepping stone to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with Bosch eyeing qualification spots. “Through to the semi-finals at the World Champs!” celebrated a 2023 tweet from the federation after Bosch’s qualification score of 56.8 in double mini – a mark that placed him second in his group. With 72 athletes from the USA alone competing, the field is fierce, but Bosch’s blend of experience and innovation positions him well.
Funding Hurdles: The Real Flip for SA Gymnasts
Behind the bounces and medals lies a gritty reality: funding. Bosch, self-financed for overseas trips, relies on a contract with the Department of Arts and Culture and the ECAS programme at Nelson Mandela University (NMU) for partial support. “The biggest thing athletes need is funding to get to competitions overseas,” he said. “At the moment, I have a contract with the Department of Arts and Culture, which helps pay towards some of the trips. I am also on the ECAS program at NMU, which also helps provide for us, but to be able to go overseas more, we would need some kind of funding or sponsorship.” In a sport where travel costs R50,000 per event, self-reliance is the norm for many SA gymnasts, limiting entries and exposure.
Gymnastics South Africa has lobbied for increased support, with Bosch’s selection highlighting the need for stable backing. “We need funding, as we are self-funded when we want to go overseas and participate,” Bosch reiterated, a call echoed by peers like Jordan Booysen, who trains alongside him. Despite the challenges, Bosch’s story – from local flips to world semis – inspires: a reminder that with grit and a little lift, South African trampolinists can soar.
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