The first time Julia Stuart hosted a live pre-match television interview, she received a withering putdown from a football coach who doubted her knowledge.
That coach might have done his homework better. Not only did Stuart know football, she would go on to become a respected presenter and big-game anchor whose interviewing skills have never been in doubt.
As one of the faces of football on SuperSport, Stuart is among those chosen to be celebrated in SuperSport’s “Define your Great” campaign, an opportunity for the names behind the headlines to reflect on their individual journeys through the world of sport.
It’s a glimpse at what has defined their paths and shared insights that drive them to leave a legacy.
While much of the campaign’s focus will be on those in the camera’s eye, there are perspectives shared by the talent behind the scenes who are the very core of the World of Champions.
Cape Town-born and raised, Stuart’s response to that debut interview was to resolve to change the perception that she never knew football. “I made it my mission right then and there to put in the work so I would never hear that phrase or have that phrase spoken in the same sentence as my name again,” she said.
With Stuart having recently won a SuperSport Woman in TV award at the Momentum gsport awards, it’s little surprise that gsport founder Kass Naidoo has been a particular inspiration to her.
“What she has achieved is truly remarkable, and then to have set up gsport for girls – creating a community of women in sport and celebrating them - she has my utmost respect for that. In this industry, and most others, I’m sure, we are somehow led to believe there is only room for one successful woman. Through her work she is changing the culture from within, something I am working on too.”
Stuart ran track and played football, but she had a real penchant for dancing. She attended ballet classes as a youngster and won acclaim years later by performing with a dance company at the Grahamstown Arts festival.
Stuart lived in Cape Town until she joined SuperSport in 2015. “My hobbies mostly revolve around sport so when I’m not working I’m watching the big game or race with friends,” she says. “I am an avid reader and kick-ass baker.”
Now immersed in major sport, Stuart admits she has moments when she can’t believe what she does for a living. “
Getting paid to watch games you would watch anyway is the ultimate life hack.”
There is no question she is among the pioneers of women’s broadcasting in South Africa – albeit the fields still aren’t level – but she too has people within the industry whom she admires.
“I’m a huge fan of [British sports broadcaster] Kate Abdo. She’s brilliant and undoubtedly one of the best presenters – male or female – in the world of sport. There are a lot of my colleagues I admire, too, like Motshidisi Mohono, Neil Andrews, Phumlani Msibi and Mark Gleeson. And that’s not just because they are brilliant at what they do but because they manage to uplift and encourage others and I have benefited from that.”
Stuart’s vibrant personality extends into her own philosophy. She lives by the phrase “it always seems impossible until it’s done”, saying she feels that so many around her can be super-negative or talk themselves out of something they dream about without even trying.
The other is “what is meant for you will always be yours.”
“It helps me stress less about things that are outside my control. And it leads to a much happier, peaceful existence when you are not focused on things you cannot change.”
Among her favourite sporting personalities is Lewis Hamilton.
“He has broken just about every record there is and all while being the only black driver in a very white, elite sport. The message that sends to billions around the world is one of hope and encouragement – if he could do it in those circumstances so can we all. That’s why representation is important. The same applies to Serena Williams, who I also hugely admire.”
She says that there were numerous challenges in her quest to be successful, but the internal challenges were sometimes bigger.
“Am I good enough? Do I belong here? What will they think of me?” are questions she once asked of herself.
“Once you overcome this way of thinking and start having that unwavering belief in yourself and your abilities, there is really nothing that can stop you,” she says.
Her daily motivation comes from the rush of football with its endless fixtures, tournaments and shows.
“It’s constantly moving and evolving and there are new challenges constantly. That’s why I always say you’re only as good as your last game.”
Asked what advice she would give prospective presenters, she said there was no alternative but to knuckle down.
“You have to do the work. There is simply no way around it. And be yourself. It’s tempting to imitate but your power is in your uniqueness.”
Her definition of being great defines her excellence. “There are so many ways to be great and it means different things to different people. To me being great means staying in my lane, working on my craft and being the best me I can be. And to be that consistently.”
Spoken like a champion