Local Judoka is chasing his Olympic dream
To say that Timothy Meuwsen loves judo is perhaps an understatement. He is crazy about it.
This dedicated judoka's big dream, which he has cherished for years, is to represent South Africa at the Olympic Games.
He knows that achieving this will require hard work and great sacrifices, but this does not deter him. It has become the norm for the member of the Tuks Judo club to practice thrice daily for six days.
The hard work is paying off. Meuwsen won a bronze medal in the under-81kg category at the recent African Judo Championships in Abidjan. This has led to him being ranked in the top 100 in his weight division for the first time. He is currently ranked 85th internationally.
Meuwsen describes himself as a sports fanatic.
'Many times at school, when I was sitting in the classroom writing a test, I wished I could be on the sports field instead. Rugby was my first great love. I also played cricket, but I was not that good at it. But everything changed when a friend invited me to a judo practice with him. I can't explain it, but I kept returning to the judo classes. The more I went, the more I loved doing judo. The sport grew on me. Judo has changed my love,' he explained his passion.
The one thing that keeps him going is the people around him. There were times when he had no money to participate in a tournament, but every time, some people took the risk of helping him.
Since joining Tuks' judo club, Meuwsen has also won a bronze medal at the African Junior Championship and last year's African Games. His big highlight was the gold he won at the African Open in Yaounde in 2022.
'It took a lot of effort to raise the money to participate. After everything was paid, I did not have much pocket money left. But I did not lack motivation. That gold medal will always remain special,' he commented.
Meuwsen is under no illusions about where he will fall short if he wants to realise his dream of competing in the Games.
'I lack international experience. I am very grateful for the opportunities I get to compete in Africa. However, the reality is that African judo is very different from Europe and Asia. That is why it is important to compete more internationally. Now, all I can do to gain experience is to compete in the heavier weight divisions, such as under 90 kg and 100kg,' Meuwsen, who was last beaten in his weight division in South Africa four years ago, remarked.
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
David Beckham's knighthood celebrated worldwide
David Beckham, the Manchester United and England legend, has finally received the honour he's waited more than a decade for. King Charles III knighted David Beckham for his services to sport and charity. Beckham's journey to knighthood has not been straightforward. He first received an OBE in 2003, but his elevation to 'Sir David' took years. His nomination was reportedly delayed due to issues with HM Revenue and Customs, but persistence paid off, according to ESPN. Now, at 50, Beckham joins the ranks of sporting royalty, alongside the likes of Sir Lewis Hamilton and Sir Andy Murray. Beckham's reaction was heartfelt. 'To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career and a boyhood dream come true,' he said. 'Off the pitch, I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to represent Britain around the world. I have also supported and worked with incredible organisations. These organisations supporting communities in need and inspiring the next generation. I'm so lucky to be able to do the work that I do. I'm grateful to be recognised for work that gives me so much fulfilment. It will take a little while for the news to sink in. I'm immensely proud, and it's such an emotional moment for me to share with my family'. Beckham's knighthood is not just a personal triumph. His wife, Victoria, now holds the title of Lady Beckham. Their children—Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper—shared their pride on social media. Romeo posted a beaming photo with his father, writing, 'So proud of you'. The whole Beckham family is basking in the glow of this achievement. David Beckham's impact stretches far beyond the pitch. He played a key role in securing London's 2012 Olympic Games, and he's been a UNICEF ambassador since 2005. He's also the ambassador for King Charles' charity, The King's Foundation. King Charles III knighted David Beckham for his services to sport and charity. As Beckham himself put it: 'Growing up in East London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British. I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Tuks athletes hope to win several medals at the World Student Games
There is a good reason why it is said that races or matches are not won on paper, but as with everything, there are exceptions. It can now already be said with certainty that there will be more than one Tuks athlete standing on the winners' podium next month in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, during the World Student Games. The statistics of the 2023 Games backs this up. South Africa won 20 medals and Tuks' contribution to the medal tally was 11. Three of the Tuks athletes who won individual medals in Chengdu, China, will be competing again. Judging by the results this year, they are faster and stronger. Charne du Plessis, who won bronze in the 800 metres in 2023, is now nearly six seconds faster. In March, the medical student made history when she won the 800 meters in 1:59.86 at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria. In doing so, she became only the sixth South African female athlete to break the 2-minute barrier. A month later, at the SA Champs in Potchefstroom, she ran 1:58.98, qualifying for the World Champs. Her time is currently one of the 21 fastest in the world. Just for interest, at the previous Student Games, she ran 2:04.73. Her breakthrough runs came about because she has made a mindset change. 'I am not afraid anymore when I line up to race. I give my all when I run because I don't want to disappoint myself. The moment I finished racing, it is important to know it was my best effort. I could not have done better,' she said during a recent interview. Marlie Viljoen was one of only two South African athletes to win a gold medal in China last year. She was victorious in the 400 metres, running 52.38 seconds. So far this season, her best time is 51.42 seconds. She credits being faster to no longer being afraid to race hard until the end. 'Working full-time definitely helps. I'm in a routine. The work and athletics complement each other. I am more focused at work when I have trained on the track. The best is that I no longer put so much pressure on myself. I run to enjoy it and with every race,' she explained. Courtney Westley won the women's singles sculls in China. This time around, she paired up with Katherine Williams. Westley finished fifth last year in the A-final of the World Under-23 Championships. Williams has won bronze at previous World Under-23 Championships. Hannah van Niekerk was part of the South African women's 4x400m-relay team that won a bronze at the World Relay Championships. Last year, she won a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles during the World Junior Athletics Championships. She is also the South African under-23 champion for the last two years. With best times of 56.22 seconds in the hurdles event and 52.72 seconds over 400 metres, she can be considered a medal contender. A total of 34 Tuks athletes, coaches and team managers form part of the South African Student Games team. Basketball: Allen Mametja, Matthew Williams, Caroline Maine and Thoriso Kotsane. Men's coach: Thanda Kweyana. Women's coach: Thesline Davids. Rowing: Katherine Williams and Courtney Westley. Swimming: Kate Meyer, Hannah Pearce, Leigh Mcharan, Hannah Robertson, Pieter Coetzee, Matthew Randle, Arno Kruger, Cameron Casali, Owethu Mahan, Shaun Thomas. Coach: Keenan Riffel Athletics: Eckhart Potgieter, Peace Adedokun, Anastayasha George, Marlie Viljoen, Charne du Plessis, Karabo Mailula, Kayla van der Bergh, Hannah van Niekerk and Colette Uys. Archery: Joane Coetzee and Wian Roux. Team manager: Gerda Roux. Coach: Septimus Holtzhausen. Tennis: Coach: Kyla Yelverton. Team manager: Makgotso Thobejane. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
eNCA
3 days ago
- eNCA
WADA calls on US to stop 'dangerous' Enhanced Games
LAS VEGAS - World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chief Witold Banka has called on US authorities to prevent the drug-fueled Enhanced Games from taking place next year. Speaking in Lausanne in an address to a meeting of summer Olympic officials, Banka said the inaugural edition of the Enhanced Games in Las Vegas -- where athletes will be free to use performance-enhancing drugs -- "must be stopped." "We all must stand up and condemn those who put greed and ego before the well-being of athletes and the values of fair competition," Banka said. "As the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles approach, we cannot allow what should be a celebration of honest sporting endeavour to be overshadowed by this cynical attempt to undermine clean sport. "WADA is now urging the authorities in the US to seek ways to prevent the Enhanced Games from going ahead as planned. For the sake of athletes' health and the purity of sport, it must be stopped." In separate remarks following the address, Banka urged US authorities to consider legal action to prevent the Enhanced Games from taking place. "Every effort should be made by the authorities in the US to prevent this dangerous event from going ahead as planned," Banka said. "This should be explored from the legal perspective. For example, I would question whether it is legal for licensed doctors to give these potent drugs to healthy athletes. "It goes completely against the rules and values of their profession...I think there is a strong role to be played by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA)". USADA has been a strident critic of WADA in recent years following controversy over the global doping watchdog's handling of positive drug tests from 23 Chinese swimmers in 2021. Responding to Banka's remarks on Wednesday, USADA chief executive Travis Tygart accused the WADA president of "attempting to leverage this sideshow to distract from fixing WADA and to stoke anti-American rhetoric." "As we have repeatedly said, for all of the obvious reasons, the Enhanced Games or any other open competition is a bad idea," Tygart said in comments emailed to AFP, urging Banka to accept an invitation to a US Senate hearing next week where the 2021 case involving Chinese swimmers is to be discussed. The first Enhanced Games will be staged in Las Vegas in May 2026, with athletes participating in three sports -- athletics, swimming and weightlifting. Athletes will be allowed to use drugs banned across international sport such as steroids and human growth hormones, with winners of each event receiving $250,000, and a bonus of $1 million for any athlete who breaks a world record.
