When she was 13 years old, she was diagnosed with diabetes. Ten years later, she is a world and European champion: Joanne van Lieshout of the Netherlands celebrated her biggest victory outside the tatami.
Van Lieshout followed her parents and older brother into judo when she was five years old and fell in love with the sport. She started to build a career and everything was fine until the day she learned that she suffered from diabetes, a long-term chronic condition that happens when the blood sugar (glucose) is too high. It develops when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or any at all, or when the body isn’t responding to the effects of insulin properly. If not treated, the constant high blood sugar leads to serious complications that can be life-threatening such as heart disease and nerve damage.
It was a shock for young Joanne and her family but no reason to give up her judo career.
“Actually when I was in the hospital when I got diagnosed, the nurses gave me a list with Dutch high level athletes with diabetes,” van Lieshout recalled. “I saw that list and from that moment I know that it was possible and that I only need to find my own way to do the same. So, I haven’t had many doubts about continuing. I know that if you want it, you can do it and work very hard for it.”
The key is managing the condition the right way.
“As a top-level athlete, you are constantly working to optimise different factors, such as nutrition and sleep,” the Dutch judoka explained. “For me, diabetes is simply another factor that I want to manage as well as possible. I know that perfection is unfeasible, every day is different and my body can respond in unpredictable ways. Still, I strive to get as close as possible to that ideal balance. And on the days when it’s not perfect, I know that I can handle that, too.”
Her success speaks for itself. The 23-year-old crowned herself European champion for the first time in Tbilisi in the -63 kg in style. She is currently the world no. 2 in her category and the 2024 world champion.
“Winning my first European title means a lot,” van Lieshout shared. “It’s a reward for all the hard work I and everyone around me put into it. It motivates me to keep improving and it shows me that I am on the right way.”
Van Lieshout approached the championship calmly. “I trained very hard and I knew that I was ready to show all the hard work from these last few months. My goal was to show everything I had during the day and I think I did that very well,” she noted.
The 2024 Olympian really found her passion with judo. “Judo is the most beautiful sport there is,” she said. “It has everything: technique, strength, strategy, respect, … Every fight is a totally new game with a different plan and I like that.”
“I like a lot of techniques, the most beautiful techniques are the techniques that combine timing and precision. When everything comes together perfectly, it feels effortless and powerful at the same time and those techniques are my favorite ones,” she added.
Van Lieshout sees her strength as a judoka especially in her discipline. “If I want something, I can work very hard for it and give everything I have,” she noted. “At the same time, I always look for ways to improve. Improving my techniques and continuing to develop physically and tactically.”
With her discipline and skill, van Lieshout is set up well for the future.
“My goals for the rest of the season are to keep developing myself,” she said. “Improving my techniques and becoming stronger both physically and tactically. At the same time, I want to enjoy the process and make the most of every moment.”
Author: Tatjana Flade