The two-time South African champion defended her U/19 -63kg title in Johannesburg before finishing fifth at the African Judo Championships in Morocco.
Johannesburg, South Africa (02 September 2026) – Gold medals are starting to become a bit of a habit for Kendra de Beer.
The Reddam House Helderfontein student has successfully defended her U/19 Women’s -63kg title at the Johannesburg Junior African Cup, making it two African Cup victories in a row.
And she did not have much time to celebrate before another major test came along. Kendra travelled to Morocco to compete at the African Judo Championships, where she finished fifth against some of the continent’s leading young judokas.
The result may not have been the medal she wanted, but it gave the two-time South African national champion another valuable taste of what awaits at senior international level.
“Every year brings new challenges, so defending the title is never easy. For me, it’s not just about the medal, it’s about seeing how much I’ve grown and proving to myself that dedication really pays off.”
There is plenty happening before Kendra even gets onto the tatami.
She trains three times a week with Sensei Allerdyce Fulton at Kazuno Judo, where repetition and attention to detail are a big part of her preparation.
But she is also making sure her game does not become predictable.
“I’ve been working on becoming a more complete judoka rather than relying on one technique. That includes improving my transitions into groundwork, sharpening my grip fighting and becoming more adaptable depending on the opponent in front of me.”
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Kendra had hoped to leave the African Judo Championships with another medal, but fifth place gave her something almost as useful: a clearer idea of what separates the best competitors at this level.
And while the judo is getting more serious, so is the balancing act outside the sport.
Kendra is still juggling international competition with school, often working ahead before travelling and catching up on missed lessons and tests when she returns.
Next up is another opportunity to test herself.
Kendra has qualified for the Region 5 Games in Mozambique in December, with her sights firmly set on continuing to develop as she works towards senior international competition.
And representing South Africa has added another layer to what success means to her.
“Wearing the Protea badge reminds me that I’m competing for something bigger than myself,” she says. “It has also made me realise that younger athletes are watching, so I want to set a positive example through my attitude, sportsmanship and work ethic.”
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