Marie Branser’s sporting career began in early childhood with gymnastics. But she wasn’t really happy with it. After a trial session at the Judoclub Leipzig (JCL), the young athlete discovered her true passion. She stuck with it and celebrated her first successes at a young age. And these inspired a very special dream: “I had the Olympic dream as a small child. This has dragged on for me through the years, ”reveals Branser.From a sporting point of view, things seemed to be in the right direction: “From the end of 2007 I was in the German national team, then U17. I fought my first European championship for Germany in the U21 and another one in the U23. In addition, there were a total of three European student championships, each with bronze. “
But with the top-class sports reform in Germany, there was also a deep cut in the sporting career of the Leipzig-born woman. Because in mid-2018 she fell victim to the downsizing of the federal squad and was sorted out. This means that her previous funding was also lost.
“That was a total of 600 euros, which were now lost every month. That’s a lot of money for a student in a fringe sport. In addition, I was no longer in the funding structures to be able to receive benefits in kind, such as judo suits or bandages, ”explains Branser. “I said to myself that if the funding structures don’t allow this, I’ll have to look for something else. So I closed the chapter for myself without resentment and looked ahead. “
Shortly before, the judoka had only spent half a year in Paris in order to be able to develop further in terms of sport. “I made great progress there because I had a good yardstick with top international people. But then the decision came that I was removed from the squad – a decision that I couldn’t influence. At this point, it would have been a shame to quit the sport completely, because I was on a good leap in terms of sport. “
Her trainer in France then gave Branser a trend-setting tip: “He said: Change the country, look for another nation, and continue your way.” Because the great dream of the Olympics was still there. In February 2019, Marie Branser finally started looking for a new sporting nationality.
“Change of Nations in Judo” – that was exactly the topic of her bachelor thesis two years earlier. At that time, however, she hadn’t even thought with a syllable of considering such a change herself. “In judo you always noticed that there were athletes competing for another country. I found that exciting, and it has never been written about.
Through my trainer in France, I got to know a lot of people in this area with whom I was able to conduct interviews. I was interested in the backgrounds of the individual athletes, ”said Branser, explaining her choice of topics in 2017.
“My pool of interviewees was so diverse that I can say: everyone had a different motive and everyone drew different conditions from it. Some benefited financially, others wanted to take on their mother’s nationality, and still others did it because of major sport-political problems in their own country. That was a very interesting topic for me. “
The sports student had already gained an important insight back then: “Many think that changing countries is the easier way, but it is by no means. Because no matter which nation you start for, you subordinate your private life to competitive sport and your goals, accept a rather difficult path and thereby give up some of your freedoms. “
At that time, it was not foreseeable that Branser would be able to help her own bachelor thesis one day. But when she finally tackled her change of nation herself, it benefited her. “The work made it a little easier for me because I already knew what to expect, at least from the steps I had to take. But I didn’t use my work as a manual, I got a lot of help from my French trainer, who told me what to do next or what letters to write. “
But how do you change the nation? “It starts with the fact that you have to officially write to the new nation and apply for the sporting nationality,” explains Branser. In addition to the Congo, she herself asked other countries, including Mauritius, Mozambique and Zambia. “Then you have to notify your home country and ask for clearance. The German Judo Association (DJB) could have banned me for three years. But we had parted completely and they didn’t want to put any obstacles in my way. The DJB has confirmed that I am free for the new nationality. “
Finally, the world association, the International Judo Federation (IJF), has to agree, and then only bureaucratic matters need to be clarified on site, above all, of course, the handing over of the new passport.
Marie Branser finally decided on the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The decisive factor for this was, on the one hand, the fact that the change procedure was quick and easy to implement. In addition, her grandparents had lived in the Congo for a long time and were able to give her information and tips about the country. In addition, a friend of the Congolese judo president had lived in Germany and was able to help her with bureaucratic matters as an interpreter.
“Those were all factors that made my gut feeling say: You’re not doing anything wrong with the Congo,” says Branser. At the end of April 2019 she was able to receive the Congolese “Passeport de Service” – a service pass that enables her to compete for the country. She remains a German citizen.
In terms of sport, the Leipzig native has already celebrated two important successes in the Congo: in 2020 and 2021 she won the African championship. “It was an amazing feeling for me!” Beamed Branser. “When I won the final, I cried with happiness both times. Because you work hard for it, and that work has paid off. The first time it was of course something very special because it was the first ever African championship title for the Congo and for me the first continental championship title. “
These successes created a real judo euphoria in the country. “Many children in the Congo now also want to do judo themselves, which is a nice side effect. I’m flying to Kinshasa for four days next week and hope that I can reach the young girls there too. Up until now, judo was frowned upon as a street bat sport and has now got a positive touch.
I’m relatively well-known there at the moment, and a lot of them have become fans. The association and I would like to use this effect to motivate young girls in particular to take part in judo. Because judo gives you a lot of values, especially in the form: discipline, respect, punctuality – but also self-confidence ”.
But especially from Germany, Marie Branser also countered criticism for this change of nation. “The woman from Leipzig displaced a local Congolese competitor in the class up to 78 kilograms, who has since no longer been able to take part in international competitions,” wrote the taz in a column on December 22nd, 2020. But is this accusation correct?
The Congolese judoka mentioned is 36-year-old Monica Bwanga. On the Homepage of the World Federation (IJF) is an overview of their international competitions to find. It is noticeable that these were already extremely rare before 2019, namely one each in 2007, 2010 and 2015. In 2019 there were two of them. A direct reference to the new competitor from Leipzig is not necessary.
Marie Branser also makes it clear: “In judo, there is a rule that every international country can start two people per weight class. So she always had a chance to start. I have therefore not taken a seat away from anyone ”. For her, the positive feedback and appreciation that Branser receives from the Congo is confirmation that “I didn’t just penetrate the country and do negative publicity there, but bring them something.” She thinks of her critics counter: “You all did not walk in my shoes, you all did not walk the path that I took, you do not know what I have to put up with on the way.”
With the end of the world championship in mid-June, it is now finally certain that Marie Branser has qualified for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Your Olympic dream will come true. “I’m going there to do my best,” promises the 28-year-old. “If I can do that, anything is possible. I firmly believe that I can fight for a medal. But it may well be that I can take a shower after the first round – because anything is possible in judo. “
“Between euphoria and critical voices: Marie Branser starts for the Congo at the Olympic Games” appeared for the first time on June 25, 2021 in the current print edition of the LEIPZIGER ZEITUNG. You can find our number 92 of the LZ next to wholesale markets and press shops among others at these trendy retailers.
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