Holding international gold, silver, and bronze medals, Mariella Bou Habib, a first-year sports management student at Saint Joseph University, is no stranger to victory.
The Swedish Open marks a turning point in her life. "Even though the competition was not easy, I gave my best. And the result was incredible! The gold medal I won has a different taste," admits the taekwondo athlete. Adding, "It felt good to be back." In fact, she won this medal after more than a year off due to a knee injury. "Taekwondo is part of who I am, I've carried it with me for 13 years, it fulfills me, and no matter the obstacles, I've always kept moving forward in this fight."
Two weeks before the Nordic Championship, this 25-year-old participated in a competition in Estonia where she reached the quarter-finals. "Coming back, finding my rhythm, and regaining my self-esteem motivated me. I thought: Sweden is for me!" she exclaims.
She discovered taekwondo when she was 7, through her school's extracurricular activities. It was love at first sight. From the first training session, her coach, recognizing her potential, urged her parents to enroll her in a club. Since then, Habib has not stopped training and participating in local, regional, and international competitions and championships.
First victory at ten
Her first victory was at age ten when she won a bronze medal in Jordan. "I felt different from other kids my age. This experience gave me confidence, shaped me differently, it forged my personality and vision of life. It was an amazing feeling. Since then, with each victory, this feeling becomes even stronger. The joy I get from it is worth all the pain from injuries, all the discipline and rigor I impose on myself," asserts the champion, who holds a master's degree in telecommunications from the Lebanese University, obtained in 2023.
Internationally, the competition that marked a first turning point in her career was the World Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2023. She competed in the under 53 kg category and finished in 5th place. "I lost by just one point. This tiny margin made me realize that I could go even further and aim for a world medal." This is her goal this year, for the World Taekwondo Championships to be held in October in China. But before that, she must first win the Lebanese Championship, organized in three rounds in July, August, and September. She will also participate in the World University Championship in Germany in July.
Combining technology and performance
While continuing her academic journey, Habib works as a consultant in a technology company specializing in customer relationship management. She juggles daily between her intensive training, university studies, and professional responsibilities. "It's not easy to manage everything. It's a real challenge. At the same time, there's always this inner strength pushing me to continue, and that's incredible," she confides.
Emphasizing that taekwondo is a demanding sport that requires total commitment and constant discipline, she explains that maintaining a good training rhythm every day is a priority. "There are times when I've had enough, when I tell myself I won't make it, like when the pressure is high, when I suffer a defeat, or when a training session goes really badly. But then, I tell myself that things don't work out the first time, I think back to the moments when I succeeded or my current goal, and I encourage myself to try again. That motivates me to persevere," continues Habib.
The young athlete also doesn't hide the importance of her family's support during difficult times. "Their support is beyond everything, and I'm deeply grateful. Even when I lose, they're even more present, they push me to move forward, not to give up. They always believe in me, even when I doubt my ability to succeed in a competition," she admits.
Aware that she won't remain a high-level athlete all her life, she believes she will never be able to deny this part of herself, nor turn her back on sports. "I'm convinced that I can still have an impact and help other athletes achieve their dreams," she assures.
Through academic fields she has chosen and her professional experience in software development and data analysis, she wishes to integrate technology into sports to meet athletes' needs, analyze their shortcomings, improve their performance, and raise their sports level. "If in Lebanon we could implement such technologies, it would represent a major advance. With precise evaluations, integrated models, and well-structured processes, it will be possible to identify what hinders an athlete and accompany them to better performances. That's exactly what I'd like to achieve," says Habib.
In parallel, Habib wishes to "inspire the younger generation" and show them that when you're passionate, success is possible despite the country's difficult circumstances. "I think what we lack here aren't talents, but dreams." She has always aspired to write Lebanon's history in her own way. "I just wanted to compete internationally and wave my country's flag high. It's always an honor to represent Lebanon worldwide, and to show everyone that we Lebanese can make it," Habib with conviction.
This article was originally published in French by L'Orient-le Jour.
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