Singapore Gymnastics are delighted to announce the appointment of Gerrit Beltman as the Women’s Artistic National Head Coach who will join the team in August of this year, heading into the 2019 SEA Games.

Gerrit, originally from the Netherlands, is currently employed as the Head Coach at the Federation Francophone de Gymnastic, the National center for Belgium Gymnastics, and manages to also assist the Icelandic Gymnastics Federation in a Technical Consultant role.

With a degree in Physical Education, a Level 3 FIG Coaches brevet in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics and his experience in numerous Head Coach roles in regional and national high-performance centres of Belgium, Canada and Germany over the years, Gerrit brings to Singapore a steady hand and years of experience.

As the National Coach of the Belgium team from 2002 through to 2008, he secured an Olympic berth for one of his athletes, before taking on the role of the Head Coach for the Dutch National Junior team.  Gerrit’s passion for developing young gymnasts into internationally competitive athletes is evident and he has excellent long-term planning and visio

In a statement from Gerrit on his appointment he said “I’m looking forward to start to work with gymnasts, parents, coaches and Singapore Gymnastics to increase the WAG High Performance program to a next standard (level).

As a coach I have 3 fundamental coaching values:
1) Physical fitness.
2) To maintain a good balance between intensity and load of training and time to recover (not to be understood as time to do nothing).
3) Each athlete should develop a skill known as an “individual high performance attitude”. 
 

“To be successful on an international level in WAG, one of the most essential criteria is the cooperation between education and gymnastics. This must be built on a two-sided understanding, where we are moving towards increasing the number of weekly training sessions as possible.”

“In a well-organized HP program all players (athletes, parents, coaches) know their role, an open communication between all the actors is a must. I will bring in all my energy to achieve this desired situation.”

General Manager, Karen Norden, added: "After a long recruitment process, we're excited that Gerrit will take up the role of Women's National Head Coach at Singapore Gymnastics.”

"We know Gerrit is keen to work closely with our key stakeholders; SSI and NYSI, the current National coaches and staff, and clubs to raise the profile and standard of Women’s Artistic Gymnastics in Singapore.  We believe the role of the National Coach is imperative if Singapore is to become one of the leading nations in the Asian region, and with Gerrit in place we can look ahead to the Asian Games in 2022 with anticipation.”

"Gerrit has guided numerous gymnasts during his career, including 2001 World and 2002 European silver medallist on bars, Renske Endel from The Netherlands and Belgium gymnast, Aagje Vanwalleghem a 2004 Olympian and 2005 European bronze medallist on vault.”