It was only a matter of time before Joanne VAN LIESHOUT, two-time junior world champion and Dutch shooting star, won her first major seniors title.
The 21-year-old student has climbed to sixth place in the IJF world rankings in recent months and has long been guaranteed a place at the Olympic Games in Paris. She has finished third on the Grand Slam podium no fewer than five times. She won bronze at her World Championship debut last year in Doha. Only in terms of victories has Joanne lagged a little be- hind with two Grand Prix successes to date.
Now she has made up for this one shortcoming with a bang. Joanne Van Lieshout won the world title in the 63 kg category in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. It was the first World Championships gold for a Dutch woman since Marhinde Verkerk’s home triumph in Rotterdam in 2009. The shooting star had eliminated the Canadian number one Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard in the semi-final.
“I’ll need a few days before I can really categorise this victory. To be honest, I’m still a little lost for words at the moment,” admitted the newly crowned World champion. The secret of her personal success: “My parents got me into judo at an early age and the conditions at the Papendal Olympic Centre are ideal. I feel like I’m getting a little stronger every month.”
What makes her different from the two-time junior world champion in 2021 and 2022? “My judo used to be chaotic, very spontaneous. I’ve got over that in the last two years. Now I stick very closely to the tactical concept. Also today…”
Joanne Van Lieshout’s success proves her right. You don’t need to be a prophet to predict that the World Championships title in Abu Dhabi will not be an isolated incident. More victories and titles are supposed to follow. Or to put it in Joanne’s words: “I can think of a few things I can do better.” Perhaps as early as Paris in July 2024.
Author: EJU Media