STORY GEORGIA TACEY PHOTOGRAPHY: MEGAN FISHER
On and off the mat, Georgie Waser is a force to be reckoned with.
The 21-year-old is dominating karate competitions, and as she gears up for another world competition, she couldn’t be more excited.
After her mum enrolled her in the sport when she was five, Georgie immediately fell in love.
“It’s been 16 years now, more than half my life,” she said.
Two, sometimes three days a week, Georgie is training, working on her skills as she prepares to compete in the World Karate Championships in October.
While the nerves are already setting in, she’s doing everything she can to be prepared for the competition.
“I’m feeling jittery. I always feel nervous before competitions,” Georgie said.
“I am definitely more nervous this time, having my family also competing.”
Georgie will be joined by her mother and her younger sibling at the competition, where they will all compete for Australia.
While this is Georgie’s third world competition, this will be the first time her family will join her.
“I’ve always been proud of my Mum and sibling doing karate, but I’ve never seen them compete to this level,” she said.
“So far, I’ve been the only one in the family.
Georgie first competed internationally in 2015 for an Asia and Oceania competition before going on to the 2017 World Championships.
With two black belts already under her belt, she’s ready to take on the competition in October.
Every Monday and Thursday, she trains with the dojo in Shepparton at the Japan Karate Association Australia.
As she gets closer to the competition, the dojo plans to squeeze extra training in the week, too.
Once a month, she also participates in specialised training for black and brown belts that help her sharpen her skills.
While she knows her training can seem like a lot, she’s always happy to do it every week.
“I’m used to it,” Georgie said.
“I enjoy the training, and I love the social aspect of sharing them with people who also enjoy it. You know, it’s a passion.”
On the mat, Georgie still keeps her cheerful demeanour.
“I get told off for smiling all the time,” she said.
“I get told all the time, ‘We are not your friends; we’re your enemies when we’re out on the mat’.
“I’ve been told that it’s absolutely terrifying when I actually do take it seriously, and I step onto the mat and put that karate mask on like I’ve had actual judges shift away in their chairs.”
Outside of karate, Georgie keeps herself busy with her part-time job at Greater Shepparton Secondary College, playing the violin, volunteering every Saturday morning at Parkrun and donating plasma every two weeks.
In 2022, she was also awarded the Young Citizen of the Year award for Shepparton and Greater Shepparton, which came as a total shock to her.
“There are definitely other people within our community who have done more than [what I’ve done],” Georgie said.
"When I look at my achievements, they’re not achievements; they’re just something I’ve done.
“It’s my life, I do it because I enjoy it, not because I want recognition; it’s part of my life, it’s who I am.”