Birmingham – and history – beckon South Africa’s judo twins, Donné and Thomas

After an eight-year hiatus, judo – a mesmerising battle of confidence, tactics and skill – will return to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats with toppling competitors and explosive throws.

For South Africa the hope is that a pair of young but experienced judokas will be the ones to pin down all their opponents in a quest for gold and glory.

Tshwane-based Donné and Thomas Breytenbach have been practising the sport of judo since they were toddlers.

“When we were younger, around four or five years old, we were quite busy bodies. And we would sneak out of pre-primary school, because there was a dojo right next door,” Thomas told Daily Maverick.  

“We’d see all the older kids going [to the dojo] and we’d follow them. And we started doing judo that way… It would be during nap times for the younger kids. So, while they did that, we would go do the judo.”

Their secret was eventually brought to light when their coach at the dojo handed their father a bill for his services for the previous eight months. Needless to say, the Breytenbach patriarch and matriarch were not pleased.

“Louis Nolte, the coach, persuaded my dad to allow us to compete in one tournament and Donné and I both won. Somehow, that helped persuade our parents to let us continue our judo training,” Thomas, who competes in the under-90kg category, said.

More than a decade later, the 20-year-olds are on the cusp of history. 

World at their feet

Honoured... and ready