Dorien Motten is a Belgian – Georgian gymnast. She is born in Bilzen, Belgium. In July 2018 she graduated from Ghent University as a veterinarian and is affiliated with JEM Genk and Topsportcentrum Gent.
From 2009 to 2016, she was a member of the Belgian gymnastics team, with which she participated in the 2014 European Championships in Sofia and the 2015 World Championships in Glasgow. She also became national champion in the German Bundesliga seven times. She also won gold on the vault at the WOGA Classic in Texas in 2020 that was held at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas from 31st January to 2nd February.
Since December 2022, she has had dual Belgian-Georgian nationality. The intention was to participate with the Georgian delegation in the 2023 European Championship in Antalya. However, she had to withdraw due to an injury to the ligaments of her right elbow. She has been German team champion MTV Stuttgart.
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar catches up with Dorien Motten an exceptionally talented Belgian – Georgian gymnast, winner of gold medal on the vault at the 2020 WOGA Classic in Texas, here she talks about her fitness routine, her diet, and her success story.
Namita Nayyar:
You were born in Bilzen, Belgium. Where did you have your early education? Your mother put you into gymnastics classes at an early age. You in July 2018 graduated from Ghent University as a veterinarian. You from 2009 to 2016 were a member of the Belgian gymnastics team, with which you participated in the 2014 European Championships in Sofia and the 2015 World Championships in Glasgow. This later propelled your career to the height where for you became the leading Belgian – Georgian gymnast. Tell us more about your professional journey of exceptional hard work, tenacity, and endurance?
Dorien Motten:
I started gymnastics officially when I was 4 years old in the local club of Bilzen where we lived. My mom who had been a gymnast herself was coaching the high level group and took me with her to training sessions already as a baby. I basically grew up in the gym. I was first coached by Karin; she was as former Belgian national team member and competed at European and world Championships for Belgium. I was not an easy kid but she was great with me. When I was around 10 years old I moved on to the high level group and was coached by my mom. It was both a blessing and a challenge to be coached by my mom as a teenager. I was very stubborn and sometimes we would still argue about stuff that happened in training at the dinner table in the evening. But now looking back I must say she did such a good job with me.
I ended up in the Belgian national team, which was my biggest dream. Here in Belgium we have a ‘central system’ which means every gymnast on the team has to train in the national training center in Ghent. I had to leave my home, my mom, my family and friends to go live and train in Ghent. What was my biggest dream turned into one of my biggest nightmares. I was a very positive person, always laughing when I would fall or make a mistake and then I would get back up to try again. That changed after more than a year in the national team. The coaching style was based on fear and terror. They isolated us from our family and made it very clear that they had our dreams in their hands.
It was horrible years I spend there and now looking back I don’t know how I survived that. I do know there is one thing I would always say to myself to keep going: ‘I will not let them take my dreams, if I quit they win so I’m not quitting’. In 2016 I finally decided it was enough, even though I was in the Olympic preselection. It was just not worth that much suffering. Gymnastics is a tough sport and I really like that but there is a difference between tough coaching and abuse. Unlike most of my teammates that quit and never wanted to see a gym from the inside again, I decided to go back to my home club. I started training with my mom again, just for fun.
My mom gave me the love for gymnastics back and we were an awesome team together. We started competing several different leagues around Europe which slowly gave me my confidence back. I started to reach my highest level and after the University Games, where I placed in the around and vault finals, we decided to try again for a spot on the national team. On our terms. The coaches I left in 2016 were still in charge and it was immediately clear they would not give me any chance to compete for Belgium. I still kept trying for over 3 years but they would always have explanation why I did not make the team. It was difficult to work so hard, really deserving a spot on that team but never getting what I deserved. Nevertheless I was not giving up.
After several years of being a successful team with my mother as my coach fate struck. My mom passed away very unexpectedly. This was the biggest setback I experienced in my life and it was a hard struggle to make it back to the competition floor on my own. I knew immediately that I wasn’t done with gymnastics. I needed to go back into the gym and work hard to accomplish our goals, the ones we set together. With the support of my family, closest friends and a big part of the gymnastics community I made it back. I will always be grateful for that.
In January 2023 I started a new chapter in my gymnastics career, competing for a new country, Georgia. I was very determined to reach the goals I had set for myself together with my new team. Starting with the world cup series that would lead up to the European Championships. There I would try to qualify for world Championships and this would be the path towards the Olympic Games. Sadly, I had a setback again. The day before leaving for my first world cup I dislocated my elbow. I needed surgery and at least 6 months of rehabilitation. Luckily one of the best elbow surgeons in the world worked in the hospital close to my hometown and I had the surgery there.
It was a long road to full recovery of my elbow. Because of my elbow I was not able to get to my full potential and qualify for the Olympics this year. That was really hard for me. The weeks before I dislocated my elbow I finally felt good again, I was finally where I wanted to be after all I had been through. It was not meant to be this year but I am sure there is a plan for me and I’m going to have faith that I will get there in the end. I’m starting the new Olympic cycle with a positive mindset!
Full Interview is Continued on Next Page
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