Growing up, I found myself immersed in a vibrant world of horse racing, surrounded by my family’s rich legacy in the sport. My dad, Kenny Michel, was not just any jockey; he was a truly great one, known for his remarkable skills and determination. Meanwhile, my mom was an amateur rider and an assistant trainer, contributing her own passion and expertise to our family’s equestrian journey. To add to this lineage, my great uncle Franky also made his mark as a jockey, and my grandfather was an enthusiastic amateur jockey as well. It’s safe to say that the jockey blood runs very deep in my veins, connecting me to a long tradition.

As a young girl, I used to eagerly accompany my mom to the track, spending countless hours at the Terrance Millard stables. I vividly recall the moment when, at the tender age of just four years old, I announced my ambitious dream of becoming a “champion jockey” and the “best in the world.” That was the moment when the seed of my dream was firmly planted in my heart. From a very young age, I truly believed that God had blessed me with a very special gift with horses, as I seemed to communicate well with even the most scared and angry ones. I would always find myself drawn to those horses that others overlooked or doubted, recognizing that with just a little bit of love and care, they could truly excel and shine.

So, let’s fast forward a little bit… Growing up in a divorced home certainly had its challenges, but I have come to realize that my parents were genuinely doing their best to take care of my brother Craig and me during those times. Craig and I were super proactive, and we threw ourselves into almost every sporting team there was, and the truth is, we were quite good at it! My favorite sport, by far, was gymnastics, which I passionately pursued for 7 whole years. I often find myself wishing I could have taken it to the next level, but then life threw us a curveball, and we had to move to Natal to live with my dad and his new wife—yes, her name is also Genevieve! However, that move ended up being a blessing in disguise, as it was there that new doors opened for me, and I realized that my dream of becoming South Africa’s first female jockey was not just a distant fantasy, but something that was truly possible. I could see my path to ride into the history books taking shape, and it filled me with hope and excitement!

Well, after a year and a half filled with numerous interviews at the Jockey Club of South Africa, I found myself facing a wall of rejection—denied, denied, denied. They simply stated that in their eyes, there was no room for a woman in what they perceived as a man’s sport and world. However, that stark dismissal did not stop me; in fact, it ignited a fierce determination within me, giving me even more drive to fight for my dreams. The criteria to be accepted into the academy were quite strict: you had to be between the ages of 13 and 15, have passed Standard 6 back then, and weigh between 30 to 35 kilograms. Crazy, right? They also specified a shoe size between 1 and 3, and your leg length—from foot to knee—had to be approximately 30 cm. I think that was the measurement requirement, but either way, I never quite matched up because I was literally fully grown by the age of 14 and weighed 44 kg. But then, we thought, why not take this as an opportunity? I decided to lose some weight and start training just like the guys, especially since my dad was based on the premises at the Jockey Academy. So, we embarked on this challenging journey to shed some kilos, and I miraculously managed to get down to around 36-37 kg. After all that hard work, we eagerly went for the final interview, only to be met with another round of denial. It was incredibly disheartening.

I was sorely disappointed, feeling a wave of frustration wash over me… but then, unexpectedly, we received a call from the chairman of the jockey club, who kindly asked me to come in one final time for an important meeting. Much to my surprise, they accepted me, but with a set of conditions that felt rather daunting: I would have to live with my dad for the entire year, with no special privileges. They added that if I managed to cope with this arrangement, they would reconsider accepting more females into the program, which was a small glimmer of hope. However, there was also a strict weight limit imposed on me; I could not exceed 40 kg during that first year. 🥵🥵🥵🥵 But the challenge was officially on… I worked harder than ever, with a fierce determination and a point to prove to everyone who doubted me. My dad would always say to me, “Gen, if they are training for 90 minutes, then you need to double that effort. If the boys are running five times around the track, you better run at least ten times…” And that is precisely how it went day after day. I had to toughen up and develop resilience, but with God’s grace, I poured my heart into this journey and worked with both passion and excellence. I was absolutely determined to break into the exhilarating world of horse racing…

Anyways, we’re going to fast forward here a bit… I will share the rest of my story in some of my upcoming blogs, so stay tuned! After ten long years of professional racing, where I fought hard and earned my place among the “guys,” gaining their respect along the way, I found myself veering down a very deep, dark road. During this time, I began to allow the outside world to exert its influence over my life, and unfortunately, my once-strong relationship with God started to decline. On September 6, 2001, I experienced a career-altering accident that completely changed everything for me, abruptly ending my career as a jockey. It was supposed to be my last ride for the morning, riding a yearling for Mike Bass, and in a split second, everything turned upside down. One moment, I was racing, and the next, I was propelled into the air, landing harshly on my head. This catastrophic fall resulted in a devastating break of my C6 and C7 vertebrae, as well as damage to my arm. The pain and emotions I felt were truly overwhelming… but once again, through God's incredible grace and healing hands, I underwent surgery just ten days later. The doctors fused the bones using a piece of bone from my hip, along with screws and metal plates to hold everything in place. They told me that I would never be able to partake in any impact sports again… 🤬😭😭😭

Needless to say, my life turned around drastically in ways I could never have anticipated… coming out of a very abusive relationship, which I won’t go into too much detail about, but that experience was undoubtedly a significant part of the turning point in my life. It was during this challenging period that I had the incredible fortune of meeting my husband, David Weber, while we were on a mission trip in Zambia. We both took part in an outreach program with the Table View Assembly of God, and from that moment, everything changed for the better. I moved to Windhoek a year later, we got married, and now we are blessed with two amazing kids, Anna-Michel and Caleb Daniel, who fill our lives with such joy and also many challenges…

Now, here we are, 24 years down the line since the day of my accident, and I was finally given the encouraging go-ahead after undergoing several additional scans and consultations with various doctors. They told me that I could fully embrace and live my life, using the unique gifts and talents that God has bestowed upon me. They also encouraged me not to live in fear of what might come next after my accident. So, in the year 2011, I took a significant step forward and completed my very first 21km run in Knysna. Following that accomplishment, I also participated in a triathlon, and ever since then, we have not looked back. We continue to keep moving forward in our journey and, most importantly, we keep learning along the way.

I’ve decided to use some wording from AI because I’m not an academic person and struggled in school. With a little help, I can write with more confidence now. It feels like a fresh start…

GEN’S JOURNEY:

Gen’s journey is not just a story of athletic prowess but a thrilling adventure of resilience, passion, and unstoppable spirit!

Her accolades sparkle like medals on a winner’s podium: twice crowned as the XC MTB Age Group World Champion and African Champion, Gen has dusted off setbacks with as much grace as she navigates a rocky downhill. After facing a life-altering injury that might have sidetracked anyone else, she transformed her trials into triumphs, diving headfirst into triathlons, running, and her newfound love for mountain biking. It’s not just about the races; it’s about the grit and determination that makes Gen a beacon of inspiring energy!

But wait, there’s more, with the title of Training Peaks-accredited level 1coach, UCI Level 1 accredited coach, Gen perfectly balances the whirl of wifehood and motherhood, with her athletic commitments. Whether she’s cheering from the sidelines or coaching future champions, Gen brings her A-game.

So, here’s to Gen: a trailblazer on and off the bike, proving that life's obstacles are just exciting detours on the path to greatness!