Moira Koster De Villiers proves you can chase the Olympics and still keep life grounded

Moira Koster De Villiers has built a career that’s less about hype and more about staying power. Turning 36, the New Zealand judoka is still one of Oceania’s most seasoned names, carrying the kind of experience you can’t fake. Two Olympic appearances and five World Championships entries underline just how long she has held her place on the international stage.

Her story starts far from Christchurch, where she now trains. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, she stepped onto the tatami at five years old, joining in simply because the boys around her were doing judo. That small decision grew into nearly two decades of competing internationally.

She didn’t take long to make an impact. At her international debut at the 2006 Oceania Championships in Papeete, she won gold right away. Over the years she added multiple Oceania medals, including ten continental titles from junior through senior level, turning consistency into her signature.

The bigger events followed, too. She represented New Zealand at World Championships five times between 2010 and 2023, and she made the Olympic team for London 2012 and Paris 2024. Her Commonwealth Games results also show her ability to stay competitive across eras, with silver in Glasgow 2014 and bronze in Birmingham 2022.

Longevity is a skill, and she’s mastered it.

Glasgow 2014 stands out as a personal highlight: after taking her own silver medal, she watched her husband Jason Koster reach the podium as well. It’s a memory she has called one of her most special, and today Jason is also her coach, working with her day-to-day in Christchurch.

Her medal list includes sixteen World Cup podium finishes, topped by victory at the 2025 Asian Open in Taipei. In 2025 she also won the Oceania Open in Tahiti and later added bronze at the Oceania Open on the Gold Coast. Away from competition, “Moi” is known for a calm, practical approach—board games, puzzles, and time with her children Sam and Norah—guided by a simple mantra: “Do simple better.”

Source: JudoInside