Geronay Michaela Whitebooi’s story is one of determination, resilience, and groundbreaking achievements. Born on January 2, 1996, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Geronay has made history in the -48kg weight category in Judo. She became the first South African woman to win gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and is the nation’s second woman to qualify for an Olympic Games. Moreover, she’s the first woman to qualify for two consecutive Olympic Games.
Geronay’s impressive career includes being a two-time African champion, one-time Vice African Champion, and a three-time African bronze medalist. She also secured silver and bronze medals at the Africa Games and made history again by winning a silver medal at the Dubrovnik Senior European Cup in 2022, the first for a South African woman.
In this interview, Geronay shares her journey into Judo, the challenges she faced, and the triumphs she achieved. Her story is not just about winning medals but also about the sacrifices, mental resilience, and the impact of her achievements on future generations of South African and African judokas.
Q: Can you tell us about your journey into Judo and what inspired you to pursue this sport professionally?
Geronay Whitebooi: I started Judo at the age of 9 at Booysen Park Judo Club under the guidance of Sensei Rodney Clemence. I accompanied a friend as she was the one doing Judo, and when I got there and saw what she was doing, I was immediately interested. I asked the sensei how I could start Judo. My first competition was in March 2006 when I was 10 years old. I remember crying a lot because I came 2nd and only got the silver medal, but I didn’t realize it was the SA Champs. Judo helped me from an early age to overcome sad moments in my life. My dad passed away in May 2009, and the weekend before or after that, I decided to go fight the Provincial trials so I could go to the SA Champs. At that moment, I didn’t think much of it, but now I know it was a coping mechanism for me to deal with the pain of losing my father.
Q: What do you believe sets Judo apart from other martial arts or combat sports?
Personally, I’ve never done any other martial arts, so I can’t compare them. However, I know that I have learned a lot of values from Judo. Judo is about respect, honour, friendship, and courage. Judo is the gentle way, as you use the force of your opponent to attack them and score against them. The gentle way has been a life lesson- that you need to use the obstacles in life and make them work in a positive way.
Q: How do you approach training and preparation for major competitions like the Olympics?
Competitions are planned out by my coach and me in a plan that we agree upon. From that competition plan, my coach sets out the training plan and forwards it to me if I want to adjust it due to other needs I have to work on. The training plan helps me prepare mentally for each session I have to do, but also to look far in advance as we have set out goals for each competition. The Olympics, I believe, should be approached like any other competition; otherwise, you will put too much pressure on yourself as it is the highest level of Judo competition.
Q: Could you share a memorable moment or match in your Judo career that has had a significant impact on you?
The Commonwealth Games 2022, final match. I knew in my heart already that I was going to win that fight and nothing would stop me. I was so focused. I remember the bronze medal match before me had an accident, and they had to move the girl with the emergency personnel past me, but it didn’t take my focus away. My mind was set on the mat. I envisioned myself winning the fight with uchi-gari; I just wasn’t sure at what moment it would happen. When they said golden score, I told myself, Michaela, there is no time to give up here. You are going to be the winner. Without thinking about the technique, my body executed it, and I shouted out of pure happiness and joy for achieving my goal. Walking off the mat, it was the proudest moment for me as a South African Judoka.
Q: You won a silver medal at the 2022 Senior European Cup in Dubrovnik, another first for South Africa. How does it feel to be the first South African woman to medal at a European Cup?
This is a very difficult one for me. I won a medal, but I lost my sister. I lost time with her, I lost the chance to grieve properly with my family, and I lost someone who meant the world to me. To this day, I still haven’t gotten the chance to go back to her grave. The medal proudly represents another barrier-breaking effort I have made, but it is a medal I look at with sadness because I made her proud, but I wasn’t there enough for my family and myself during that time. Judo took a lot from me, and I made great sacrifices for this sport.
Q: Tell us about your fights that day leading up to the final.
It was an amazing competition, but truly, I wished that I had stayed with my family and mourned properly.
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a Judoka, and how have you overcome them?
Mental challenge: Sports is 90% about your mentality. You need to have a healthy and strong mind to be able to train every day and compete often. I have wanted to give up many times during the past 2 years because I wasn’t mentally ready for the challenges I was facing, but I had support from my coach, my boyfriend, family, and friends to help me get through each challenge.
Physical challenge: The body gets tired; you face small injuries that you push past and train with, and they end up becoming something much more painful. Taking care of your body means you need to get a massage once a week and see a physio whenever you feel something small so you can avoid big injuries.
Sponsorship challenge: Judo in South Africa isn’t a popular sport, so getting apparel or supplement sponsors to assist you is not easy. Until this day, I can count maybe 2 or 3 well-known brands that have assisted me. I have to seek sponsorships privately through individuals or companies who are willing to assist once off.
Sacrifice: Making so many sacrifices, such as no social life, no time for my family or friends. I gave up a lot to represent my country.
Q: How do you maintain focus and mental resilience during high-pressure situations in competition?
I get nervous at competitions, but I have learned to use my nerves to push myself to fight instead of letting them get the best of me. I have techniques to calm myself down and get into my zone to fight. The main thing is to remember how hard you have trained and the goal you have set for yourself.
Q: You’ve won African Champion titles in Cape Town and Antananarivo. Can you tell us about those experiences and how they differed from each other?
Cape Town was at home, which made it a special title win, but Antananarivo made most people see that Cape Town was not just a lucky strike for me, as now I defended my title. It felt great for me to know that the Olympic Dream was still alive during the period of COVID, as it was difficult for us to travel and compete.
Q: How did it feel to win the gold medal in Cape Town, competing on your home soil?
The Cape Town Africa Championship is where I realized that I could qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games, and it was a game-changer for me. Winning in front of family and friends supporting me was one of the greatest feelings ever.
Q: Can you describe the atmosphere and support you received from the home crowd in Cape Town?
The support was amazing, with everyone screaming my name and pushing me to perform and win that gold medal. It was truly an honour stepping off the mat and getting the supporters to applaud for me. It was great coming off the mat and greeting coach Nikola for the work we had done to get that gold medal.
Q: What was going through your mind during the final match in Cape Town that led to your victory?
I was hungry for the gold medal. I was so aggressive in my head that I started to come close to her in the lineup and made sure that she felt my presence behind her. I was focused on winning and making myself proud. Coach Nikola was there behind me, keeping me calm during the process so that I didn’t over-focus and lose control.
Q: What lessons did you learn from your Commonwealth Games victory that you carry with you in your Judo career?
The lesson I learned from the Commonwealth Games was how to prepare a week in advance in a village with athletes for a competition. I needed to remain focused during that time and not feel any pressure being around many athletes. The Judo competition venue was like the Olympic Games 2021 arena, so I was ready to fight in such a big arena with many supporters.
Q: You came 5th at the 2022 Tokyo Grand Slam, one of the strongest tournaments on the IJF World Tour. Tell us more about that day and your fights leading up to the Bronze medal match.
At the Tokyo Grand Slam 2022, I was very calm about the competition. The pre-training for weight loss, the weigh-in, and gi control was all a smooth process with no pressure. I warmed up nicely and was waiting for the round 2 fight. I fought my first fight against Indonesia and gained a lot of confidence from that fight. The 2nd fight was against Tsunoda from Japan, which was the quarter-final fight. I had fought her before and was planning in my head how I could manage the fight, but unfortunately, I didn’t get the victory as planned. The repechage fight was 6 minutes long. It was a really difficult fight mentally to get through, but in the end, I managed to win the fight by penalties. I didn’t realize that I had just made my first final block in a Grand Slam. I lost myself when I was standing in front of the camera for the bronze medal fight, being alone there without a coach to guide me on how it actually works and the pressure I was putting on myself. In the end, I walked away with a 5th place from the Grand Slam.
Q: This year, you won a bronze medal at the African Games. What did that achievement mean to you and how did it influence your career?
I had a goal to win the gold medal at the Africa Games 2024. This was based on me winning the silver in 2019, and I wanted to improve on that result. I didn’t manage to achieve that goal, and it made me a bit sad, and I was disappointed in the way I fought that day. I love Judo, and I want to showcase my Judo on the mat. Even when the result isn’t good, I want to fight well, and I believe that the Africa Games wasn’t my best Judo. I looked back at the possible reasons why it didn’t go as planned and realized I was being hard on myself because I had made many changes in my life months before, and I should be proud of myself for being on the podium. The Africa Games showed me how I should be prepared mentally for the fight before appearing physically on the mat.
Q: You’ve had a successful journey with notable wins leading up to your Olympic qualification. Can you tell us about your experience at the World Championships in Abu Dhabi, where you won a fight against Paraguay?
My goal for the World Championships was to get to the final block and get sufficient points to qualify directly for the Paris Olympic Games. I only managed to win the first fight against the lady from Paraguay. It was a bit disappointing for me, but then I focused on the positive side that I had gained points towards the Olympic qualification.
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring Judokas who are looking to excel in the sport?
If you want to qualify for the Olympic Games, you need to be willing to give up everything for your dream. You must be ready to be mentally challenged, go through physical pain, have many days when you will cry, and other days when you will be extremely excited. You need to put the goal in your heart and be willing to look past all the failures and losses to get to the end goal.
Q: How do you balance your athletic career with other aspects of your life, such as education or personal interests?
I managed to study through the sports bursary I received at the University of Pretoria, and I’m truly grateful for that opportunity. I studied my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and I managed to do so within the normal time as a sports student. I’m now a full-time sportswoman, so I don’t have any other interests except Judo. Anything else that I want to achieve I have put aside to focus on Paris 2024.
Q: Can you share any insights or lessons you’ve learned from Judo that you apply to your daily life outside of the sport?
You are going to fail many times along the journey, but you have to place your focus on the positive lessons that you have learned from it and strive forward towards your goal. I have always been hard on myself to win, and when I didn’t, it would break me. I would be so sad after the competition and cry. I have learned along the way that I need to stop doing so and take it all as a stepping stone towards my main goals.
Q: How does it feel to be the first South African woman and the first woman of colour to represent South Africa at two Olympic Games after Henriette Moller’s historic debut at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens?
I am proud of my achievement because I’ve made that little girl proud who started Judo in 2009. I am proud because Judo was not a sport for women when it was developed. I am proud because I am living up to the talent that God has blessed me with. I have always seen myself as a barrier breaker, and I believe I am doing just that.
Q: How do you think Judo has evolved over the years, particularly in terms of gender equality and inclusivity?
Judo was first seen as a sport for men, as women were not allowed to be seen fighting. Today, women get paid for fighting, they receive sponsorships, and they are broadcasted on TV. Therefore, I believe that in Judo, there is gender inclusiveness.
Q: Have you encountered any specific challenges as a female Judoka, and if so, how have you navigated them?
As a female Judoka, it is difficult to manage your emotions when you are going through your monthly menstruation cycle, and I think it is still a lesson that most male athletes need to understand about females. We go through this process and still manage to show up at training and push towards our daily goals. I have now learned to track my cycles to inform my coach when I am in that stage of the month so he can manage my emotions. It is important so that trust is built, especially if you have a male coach.
Q: What do you believe can be done to encourage more girls and women to participate in Judo and combat sports?
Judo is a martial art that can be used as a defense mechanism, and as women in this day and age, we need to learn those basics to protect ourselves. Judo needs to be a part of school sports, like netball and hockey. This way, it will create more awareness for girls to join.
Q: How do you hope your achievements will impact the future of South African and African Judo in general?
I hope I have laid down a standard that can be surpassed by the next generation. My dream is for Judokas of South Africa to achieve much more than I have, and I know it is possible because we have great talent. I hope my achievements will inspire them to push for greater heights and show the world what South African Judo can do.
Athlete Geronay Michaela Whitebooi, -48kg Extra Lightweight Judoka representing South Africa.
Instagram: @geronay48_oly
Facebook: Geronay Whitebooi
Interviewed by Anastasia-Alexandra Nenova
Instagram: @madeinbulgariaxx
Facebook: @madeinbulgariaxx
