The father of Zoë and Tara Vogels from Geffen thought kickboxing was a good sport for his daughters to defend themselves. It became a hobby that got out of hand.
Zoë (16) has now made the switch to boxing, where she won the European title under 17 this week. Her sister Tara, three years older, is also a great (kick)boxing talent. “We sometimes hit each other during training, but we never actually argue.”
Impression
When Zoë walks into the Knockout Boxing Club in Den Bosch, she receives one congratulations after another. During the European Championship in Germany she made a big impression by taking the title. “In the final I had to play against a girl I had lost to before. We had a clear match game plan and I managed to win this time. First I ran to my sister to celebrate. It was an incredible feeling, the realization only came a few days later.”
Sister Tara calls the title a great moment. “My father and I are Zoë’s biggest fans. I shouted loudly to let her know that she had spectators. Although she must not have heard what I said, because she only listens to her coach.”
“Without her I would never have reached this level.”
Zoë was five years old when she started kickboxing for the first time. Tara came along and eleven years later they still train together, six times a week. “At first it was only kickboxing, but I also started boxing six years ago with Albert Kraus in Oss,” says Zoë. “Due to injuries, I have been focusing solely on boxing since this year. Training with Tara is a lot of fun. She does have a different style, but I learn from that. We motivate each other, without her I would never have reached this level.”
Tara, three years older, won the kickboxing world title as a youth, but is now about to focus more on boxing. Last year she took part in the Under-20 World Cup in America.
“It was a nice experience to be able to box against the top of the world. It is really a different sport than kickboxing, which is very technical and much clumsier. In boxing you look for openings to score points,” says 19-year-old Geffense, who also trains with Liz Thijssen and Mahmoud Al Chabtoun, among others.
The sporting ambition of both sisters is to compete among the world’s top athletes. Zoë: “It would be great to reach the major tournaments such as the European Championships and World Championships. And the Olympic Games are a dream for every amateur boxer.”
“Of course I don’t want to get hit by my sister.”
Tara agrees. “Zoë boxes at the junior level and can gain a lot of experience there. I see her blossoming completely. I am already in the elite, but I still have enough time to develop further there. Zoë’s European title motivates me even more. Of course, I don’t want to get hit by my sister later.”
Both sisters support each other through thick and thin, but is it always cake and egg in the Vogels house? Zoë: “We never argue, only sometimes during training. Then we can sometimes get punched,” she says, laughing. Tara: “There has even been a flying elbow once in a while. But after that, things always get better between us quickly.”
