DERWAEL Nina

General
POST-COVID CONFIDENCE
In December 2020 she tested positive for COVID-19, after her partner Siemen Voet was diagnosed with the virus. Since recovering, she says she has flipped her emotions from worry to eagerness over the postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo to 2021. "I am more sober in my body and my mindset. I told myself, 'Okay, we are going to do this.' Instead of with fear, I am now going there with enthusiasm." (hbvl.be, 16 Dec 2020; sporza.be, 23 Mar 2021)

UNEVEN BARS
She says she and the uneven bars, her best apparatus, have a symbiotic partnership. "I like to think that I communicate and have a relationship with the uneven bars. I would like to say that the bars speak to me, and in return, I listen. We understand each other. I can truly feel it when the bars want me to release, or regrasp, like a flowing movement. I feel as if I am one with the bars and know precisely where and when to let go or hold on just a moment longer. I truly work together with the uneven bars, in unison." (intlgymnast.com, 10 Mar 2021)

NAMED ELEMENT
In December 2017 'The Derwael / Fenton' was added to the Code of Points for the uneven bars by the International Gymnastics Federation [FIG]. The element, first performed by her at the 2017 World Championships in Montreal, QC, Canada, involves a backward Stalder with counter straddle reverse hecht over the high bar with half [180 degree] turn to hang in mixed L-grip and has a 'F' value. The element was also performed at the same championships by British gymnast Georgia-Mae Fenton, so the name of the element was shared between the two gymnasts. Since then she has said she is training a new element that she does not want to share. "I hope that this time, no one has the same idea." (fig-gymnastics.com, 15 Dec 2017; fr.audi.be, 01 Sep 2020)

She became the first Belgian artistic gymnast to win a gold medal at the world championships when she claimed victory on the uneven bars at the 2018 edition in Doha, Qatar. A year earlier she was the first Belgian artistic gymnast to win a gold medal at the European championships when won on the uneven bars at the 2017 edition in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. (demorgen.be, 08 Nov 2018; een.be, 25 Apr 2017; SportsDeskOnline, 27 Aug 2018)