Carla Van Zyl won a bronze medal at the European Cup, which according to the Hart Judo Academy makes her the first female athlete from Prince George to win a medal in Europe

By Tommy Osborne

Judo

Prince George Judokas earn medals from international tournaments

Mar 20, 2025 | 5:51 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Prince George athletes Carla Van Zyl and Maegan Grooten have recently brought home medals from their respective international tournaments. Both longtime judokas, Van Zyl earned a bronze medal at the European Cup, while Grooten earned a gold medal at the pan-American tournament in Abbotsford. According to the Hart Judo Academy, where they both train when in Prince George, Van Zyl’s medal is the first medal won in a European tournament by a female Prince George athlete, marking an impressive milestone in her young career.

“I’ve traveled all over the world, it’s been such a privilege. But this is the European Cup, so this is where I qualify for worlds, this is where I take the next step in judo and then like getting the medal, it was just such a great feeling. I think I hugged my coach after and I was just so happy, like I could not stop smiling,” Van Zyl said.

“Carla has really done the best of any of our athletes so far. This is the beginning for her, and we want to see her continue to improve, get stronger, get better, and hopefully make it to the Olympics one day,” said the Hart Judo Academy’s Head Coach Bruce Kamstra.

CNC Accessibility

College of New Caledonia student leaving due to accessibility concerns

16h ago

Cariboo Cougars

Cariboo Cougars ready to host BCEHL Final

17h ago

March 22 is World Water Day

17h ago

Carla Van Zyl practices a throw with Maegan Grooten

Van Zyl has a lot of experience in international tournaments, and she says what’s helped her get stronger as she continues her Judo career is always focusing on mental strength on top of physical strength and technique, which ended up being a large difference maker in Europe.

“If I was scared of failing, I wouldn’t perform. I had to perform without the fear of failure that I usually had, and then I think that’s what pushed me through those matches. I wasn’t scared of failing, I just wanted to go and give my best I had,” she said.

Like Van Zyl, Grooten also credits mental training and strength to her gold medal win in Abbotsford. She says there were initial doubts about competing in a pan-American tournament against incredible talents, but once she stepped on the mat she knew she was ready to win it all.

“I didn’t really have nerves, I wasn’t nervous at all. I just wanted to fight, and I knew that I love to fight, so I wanted to give it my best,” Grooten said.

Judo spoke to both athletes at a young age, as Van Zyl has been a judoka for thirteen years while Grooten has been involved for eight. For Van Zyl, she says she tried many sports but judo really spoke to her.

“It was enthralling. I just love to compete and the feeling of getting on the mat and fighting, and when you figure out a move with your coaches, especially as I go to a higher level, it just became something I loved so much,” Van Zyl said.

Both Van Zyl and Grooten’s performances have earned them a spot in the upcoming pan-American Championships in Peru, which will mark what they hope is another great tournament to continue honing their craft.

“I’m very excited. I haven’t traveled with Carla in a really long time and I’m really excited to go with her, and I’m excited by it, and I’m excited for the people that I’ll meet,” Grooten said.

“I’m so excited, I went last year so I’m more confident going into this year and I’m excited to give what I have because I’ve improved from last year and I can perform even better. I got bronze in cadet last year, and I lost bronze in junior, so now going back as a junior, I want to just go for the gold. And, I get to take my best friend with me there this time, which is so exciting and it’s going to be so much fun,” Van Zyl said.

The pan-American Championship in Peru will take place in mid-April.

Local news. Delivered. Free. Subscribe to our daily news wrap and get our top local stories delivered to your inbox every evening.