Michaela Whitebooi still processing Olympics setback

The Gqeberha-born athlete was in Paris for her second appearance at the multi-sport event, but was unable to get past eventual gold medalist Natsumi Tsunoda of Japan, who came into the competition ranked fourth.

Whitebooi reflected on her loss in the 48kg category to Tsunoda in the round of 16. 

"I already knew the day when the draw came out, I was going to face her, because it was obvious that she was going to beat the Brazilian," said the 28-year-old.

"My heart was obviously there to win the first fight, and I knew I was going to then face her and I knew it was going to be tough, but she's just a marvelous player that she somehow manages – it doesn't matter what you do – to get her technique in.

"She even did the same technique to the girl under 57kg in the team events, when they had the finals against the French, so she's really just so talented with that technique, it's very hard to actually stop it."

Whitebooi also laments not having enough time to gather her thoughts, after defeating Jacqueline Solis of Guatemala to set up her fight with Tsunoda on the same day.

"You don't really have a lot of time [to recoup] because, with these competitions, it's one female and one male category per day, so all the girls fight on one mat," she added.

"So, if round of 32 is done, round of 16 starts immediately, and the time you have [in between fights] is maybe 30 minutes – and people still want to stop you for interviews, you have to walk a long way, and all of those things."

For other athletes, the focus now shifts to the next four-year cycle to reach Los Angeles in 2028, but Whitebooi is struggling with moving on immediately. 

"I think for me now, it's just for my family and friends to remind me that I am a two-time Olympian, but for me it feels like I'm coming home and I'm just another person," she said.

"I get to watch the Olympics on TV and it's like I was never there – that's how it felt for me, and I have to go through this process, because it was the same with Tokyo, but it's a little bit easier now because I know what lies ahead and what I need to go through.

"But honestly, it doesn't feel anywhere near as rewarding as what I thought it was going to."

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