Michaela Whitebooi’s refusal to curb her dreams is why she received the Bestmed Tuks Sports Woman of the Year award last night. And deservedly so.
During the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, she won gold in the judo under the 48 kg category. She is the first South African female judoka to win gold at a major international competition.
For Michaela Whitebooi, her success has been a long time in the making. Ten years to be exact. Her journey to the Commonwealth Games gold started the day she joined TuksJudo.
Through the years, she won various gold medals and titles all over Africa, but victories in the rest of the world eluded her. She admitted that, at times, she lacked confidence. There were often tears of disappointment. But through every setback, her resolve never to quit strengthened. She never doubted that she had the makings to be a champion.
ALSO: Coach predicts Michaela Whitebooi can finish in the top 8 at the Judo World Champs
The first sign that things were changing was when she won a silver medal during the European Open Cup Tournament.
“It was the confidence booster I needed as it made me realise my potential. Winning that silver did not just happen. It is to do with the support I get from TuksSport, my sponsors and Judo South Africa. After the Tokyo Olympic Games, I realised that my most significant drawback was a lack of international experience.
“Thanks to my support team, I could attend more international training camps this year and compete internationally more often. In the past, there were often moments during an encounter where it felt as if I was at a total blank. Clueless.
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“The international exposure has helped me to trusting my abilities. I am more confident when I step onto the mats. I know now what I need to do to win. Even my approach to training has changed. Every day now is about giving 100%.”
After winning gold, Whitebooi has become the face of South African judo. It makes her feel nervous and proud.
“To get recognition for one’s achievements are special, but it also comes with responsibility. No sport should be about only one person ever. I want to inspire youngsters. I want more judokas to break barriers and achieve more extraordinary things than I have. So if I am to be the face of South African judo, it means I literally need to be at my best at all times.
Michaela Whitebooi is the first to admit that judo has improved her life. She probably would not have had the opportunity to study if it was not for judo. For this reason, she is actively helping her friend and training partner, Charne Griesel, coach young kids in Eersterust.
The basic idea is to try in inspire youngsters through the eight judo values – courage, respect, modesty, friendship, honour, honesty, self-control and courtesy – not to do drugs.
One of the young proteges has taken note of Whitebooi’s Games heroics.
“During one of the training sessions, a young boy came up to me and asked whether it was me who he had read about in the newspaper. I felt shy to admit that it was me, but it also made me feel proud. At least I got one fan.
“Coaching the kids, inspiring them to dream big, has made me realise why I love judo so much.”
Jovan van Vuuren, bronze in the long jump during the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, is the Bestmed Tuks Sportsman of the year.
Benjamin Richardson, the Student Sportsman of the year, is the bronze medallist at the World Junior Athletics Championships. Erin Gallagher, who won silver in the 50m-butterfly, is the Student Sportswoman of the year. Rocco Meiring, whose swimmers won seven medals at the Games, is the individual coach of the year.
