Paris podium the target for confident Whitebooi

Paris is abuzz with activity with just one day to go until the opening ceremony officially kicks off the Olympic Games.

One of the first South African athletes in action after the official opening will be Geronay Whitebooi, who will be representing the country in judo at the Champ de Mars Arena on Saturday morning.

Speaking just before her departure to the Games, Whitebooi admitted the nerves were starting to kick in.

“I’m excited and honoured… There is a bit nerves, but I think the nerves are more about having a second chance to show that I can go to the Games and I can make a difference.”

Whitebooi represented the country in Tokyo three years ago but came up against then-defending Olympic champion Paula Pareto of Argentina in the first round and was eliminated from the competition.

“I wouldn't say it was a bad fight, I think it was more just the shock of having her that kicked me off a bit, but I'm ready now,” she reckoned.

“I think it was very important because it showed me how to prepare mentally, physically, what to expect when I'm in the village, how to behave when I'm in the village. And also for me to improve on my performance from the last Olympics,” added Whitebooi who, after her Tokyo experience went on to claim gold at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham a year later.

Since then, she has shifted her training base to Botswana – a move she says has made all the difference.

“I felt that I was getting stagnant where I was training, so in order for me to grow personally and also to get out of a place where I felt like I was stuck, I made the change and I'm happy that I made that decision,” she explained.

“I think it's very important to have positive people around you so that when you do struggle, they bring you up. And that is something that I learned from my coach now, he's very positive no matter what we go through, the struggles that we have, he always sees a good side to it.”

As for what the aim is in Paris, Whitebooi is not holding back.

“The aim is to be on the podium. That’s where my heart’s at.”

How confident is the 28-year-old in reaching that goal?

“Right now, I would say 98 per cent.”

Whitebooi will be in action in the -48kg category from 10am on Saturday, 27 July.