Moekie Grobbelaar is a household name on the South African disabled sport scene. Having initially made her name in track and field events, she later won great acclaim as a power lifter. One of the highlights of her career was representing South Africa at the Paralympic Games in Sydney in 2000 where she won the bronze medal in power lifting.

Moekie, born Wilhelmina Hendrika, suffered a severe setback when she was paralysed in an unfortunate motor accident. Growing up, her mother tried in vain to find a school in Namibia for children with physical disability. At the age of seven, Moekie went by train to Kimberley to the Elizabeth Conradie School where she later matriculated.

It was here that she discovered her passion for sport. Although it was compulsory for all learners to participate in sport this was where it all began for her. At the age of 12 she received her Griqualand West colours and competed at the SA Championships in Port Elizabeth. That was 38 years ago… and she has not looked back.

Although she received her colours many times while at school, her real sports career started after school. She went to work in Windhoek but soon realised that she had to put her sport first so she moved to Pretoria where she has been ever since.

In her first year she received her Northern Transvaal colours in track & field. Her main sport was track events and she broke some world records at that time. Her big break came in 1983 when she received her Springbok colours in track & field. She was encouraged to go further and went on to break many records in track and she also started to participate in half and full marathons.

In 1993, she participated Internationally as a Powerlifter for the first time. She broke the World record and held the title till 1997. In 1997, she was selected to represent South Africa at the able-bodied World Bench Press Competition in Canada where she won the title Champ of Champions as the Best Lifter of the competition.

In 2000, she was selected to represent South Africa at the Paralympics in Sydney, where she won the Bronze medal in power lifting. If that was not enough, in 2003 she took on Disability dance until to 2005, won many Fedansa competitions in Ballroom & Latin, but had to give that up due to time constraints. She also went to the Paralympics in 2004 and Beijing in 2008.

Moekie is currently the National Powerlifting convener, a position she occupied since 1994. She’s also the Gauteng North Chairperson for Gauteng North Sport Association for the Physically Disabled. Her mission is to strive to achieve. While she has tasted success at many levels in sport, her aim is to plough back the knowledge and experience she has gained back into sports development.

Ladies, please welcome gsport’s September 2009 Woman of the Month: Moekie Grobbelaar!

Moekie, what makes you passionate about sport?

I think is because I do have a very high energy level and I love to be fit. By doing sport you always feel healthy and my mind is always clear.

Did you ever feel cheated as a youngster that you were disabled?

No, I came from a home with four other sisters, and my mom treated me the same as all of them, I think that’s why I never really seen myself as disabled.

When did you realise that you could make a career out of sport?

I would not call it that I made a career out of sport. Remember the days I did very well there was NO money in sport for people with a disability. I always had a job and did my sport after hours and over weekends.

Tell us about getting your Springbok colours in 1983. What did it mean to you?

A lot because I trained very hard for that, I was wonderful, it’s like I can still recall hearing my name been called out…. The hard part was to be able to raise the funds for myself to be part of the team leaving South Africa… I think that was more difficult than training….

What were some of the challenges that you faced along the way and how did you deal with these?

Lack of money to be able to reach my ultimate goal… In those days you had to pay for everything yourself. I even had to raise the money to build my special Wheelchair (Track chair) that I needed to do my sport.

What has been your biggest sporting career highlight?

First the World record that I broke in the 800m and 400m in South Africa. Then in 1993 when I broke the World record in Powerlifting in Australia, then in Canada when I became the Champ of Champions at the able body World Bench Championships and the Highlight was of course the Bronze medal in Sydney at the 2000 Paralympic Games.

What did it mean to you to compete in that able bodied World Bench Press Competition in Canada?

I did compete at two able-body World Bench Champs, one in Canada, and one in Finland. This was unbelievable but most of all, the experience that I have picked up seeing the other able-bodied girls.

Describe that feeling when you win a gold medal and your country’s national anthem is played?

For me this is something I cannot put in words, because I do believe we have one of the best anthems in the World. (Needless to say the longest…) The first time I win the gold medal and our anthem was played my tears was running because I know I not only achieved it for myself but also for my country.

When did you retire from international competition?

Well it is almost a year now. I stopped last year after I came back from the Paralympics, in Beijing.

What currently occupies your time?

My work, work, work …

What is your message to young people keen to follow in your footsteps and achieve great things in sport?

Set a goal, belief in yourself, always push yourself harder, do not get disappointed then you fail. (Rome was not build in one day) Work hard and never give up no matter what…

What is the best career advice you have received?

When I was in Canada I did receive a job offer to coach and teach Powerlifting for disabled people, unfortunately my boyfriend was back in South Africa at that time and I was to in love to see this as a career offer.

What can be done to further improve disabled sport in South Africa?

Well the awareness that we have received since Sydney to Beijing has improved but there is still a lot to be done in South Africa to improve disabled sport. There are a lot of athletes out there with out proper coaches, administrators, managers etc. A disabled athlete in the past had to do all of the above because of lack of funding there for a lot of them are still trying to do all of the above.

What are your favourite spectator sports?

Wheelchair Basketball

Who are your favourite female athletes?

I don’t really have a favorite one.

How do you keep fit?

I am still claiming in my basketball chair and do laps around the court, cycling on a hand bike and free weight exercise, no heavy stuff….

gsport strives to celebrate femininity. What does it mean to you to be a woman?

Wonderful, I am proud to be a woman…

What inspires you?

Live in general, I just love to wake up in the morning and to do as much as possible in one day…

Who are your role models?

Many years ago we had a guy called Vivian Scheurman, he use to be the number one wheelchair track athlete in the world. He came from South Africa and used to be my role model.

What do you hope to be doing in 2010?

Maybe going as an International Powerlifting Referee… That’s my next step!

What is your greatest ambition?

To live long and still to do lots of adventurous things!

Comments

Add New

Jeannine Pearson  - We love you Moekie   |2009-09-21 18:18:42 You have always been an inspiration to me and I am so proud to have you as a friend! Miss you. Love Jay Reply 0   0

Herman en Hanlie van der Merwe   |2009-09-22 12:48:29 Moekie, you are just the greatest!!!! You do things and go places where others haven't even thought about. You are lots of fun, always positive and your heart is in the right place. We are very proud to be know you and be your friends. Love you lots Reply 0   0

Write comment
Name:
Email:
Title:
	Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

Powered by !JoomlaComment 3.26

3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."