Junior Gymnastics Athlete, Ave, Exercises at Home via Digital Apps by Toto Santiko Budi

Photo essay for the Special Initiative “From Fear to Resilience: Visual Storytelling of COVID-19 in Southeast Asia” by SEA Junction and Partners

Title:	Junior Gymnastics Athlete, Ave, Exercises at Home via Digital Apps
Storyteller/Photographer:	Toto Santiko Budi
Place:	Jakarta, Indonesia
Time:	April 2020

Despite the growing number of COVID-19 cases and deaths, the Indonesian government has decided not to implement a national lockdown, and instead opted to impose large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in selected hotspots. Indonesia’s Special Capital Region of Jakarta was the first location to implement PSBB and limit the mobility of its inhabitants.

Covid-19 has changed everything, personal and public life alike. More than the wearing of mask and washing hands, people behavior has been affected by social distancing and isolation at home.  If adults have become familiar with the term “work from home”, children and youth are trying to adjust to “learning from home”.

13-year old Averyl Baline Mattahati, commonly called Ave, has also started to follow her classes online and so is her younger brother Aga. Besides the school program, Ave, a member of the Gavrila Gymnastics Club in South Tangerang City keeps practice artistic gymnastics at home five days a week not to lose her flexibility. Only now, she has to follow instructions online via the zoom application and use home-made equipment.

Ave is now at level 6 WAG (women’s artistic gymnastic) and she pursues four gymnastics numbers that are also contested in women’s group championships, namely: floor exercises, balance beams, uneven bars, and vaults. When she trains, the coach watches her movements and the movements of other students on his video screen very closely. If she makes an imperfect move, the coach will immediately correct her and ask to repeat the movements.

In the past, Ave has attained a number of achievements and was a champion in a regional club competition in Singapore. She was supposed to compete in Bangkok in March, but the event was canceled due to COVID-19. Competitions are not possible for now due to risk of infection, but she keeps training and hopes to be able to compete again soon.

Ave would rather practice in the club hall than at home as she enjoys practicing with friends, using complete tools, and being in a large place. She feels that the floors in the ceramic-tiled house are too hard-especially when landing from a jumping motion. Also, tools available at home have many limitations, like the drinking water tumbler she uses to lift weights. But, she and her parents Benny and Eta, are aware that perseverance also in the midst of COVID-19 is needed as the golden age for gymnastic athletes is limited. Excellent physical excellence and technical perfection are needed to be an outstanding athlete. Ave’s dream has always been to be an athlete and this motivates her to continue practicing at home until better time will arrive – she hopes soon!

Photographer & Storyteller
Toto Santiko Budi’s passion is photojournalism, documentary and travel photography. He started his career in 2000 as a staff photographer for a local newspaper and magazine in Surabaya. In 2005, he moved to Jakarta as a freelance photographer. In 2006, he become a participant of the photojournalism workshop held by World Press Photo and Panna Institute in Jakarta and a year later his photo essay titled Jakarta Flood was selected for the slide show at Angkor Photo Festival 2007. Today his works are published widely in local and international media. His Instagram is @totosantiko

Organizers
From Fear to Resilience: Visual Storytelling of COVID-19 in Southeast Asia is a special initiative of SEA Junction and its partners Beyond Food, GAATW and Bangkok Tribune to promote an alternative narrative of survival, resilience and solidarity. See further www.seajunction.org