Meet Tommie D

Tom Donaldson started playing korfball in 2017. He was in year 11 at Shirley Boys High.

 

“A friend asked a bunch of us if we wanted to play. We thought we’d give it a shot. I’d played social basketball and for the school softball team. With korfball, I enjoyed it and figured I could be good. We had a great school team and a lot of fun in the tournaments and competitions, and it went from there.”

 

Within a couple of years Tom won selection to the New Zealand U19 squad heading for the Youth World Cup. Unfortunately, Covid cancelled that tournament three weeks beforehand. Next up he made the 2021 U21 squad, which went down the same path: preparation, practice, training camps, then cancellation due to the pandemic.

 

“Both times, we had a great squad and were looking forward to showing what we could do. It was such a pity,” he says.

 

When Tom finally made his international debut at the Asia Oceania Korfball Championship in Thailand in 2022, it was worth the wait.

 

“That was the first time New Zealand ever got to play for a medal. We thought we could beat Australia and take the bronze. Unfortunately, we underestimated them, and they got away on us. However, to put ourselves in that position was still awesome. It was so much fun.”

 

In the meantime, Tom had a stint in the United States volunteering as a supervisor and mentor to young teenagers at Camp America.

 

“That really helped me grow. Before that, I didn’t have much focus or confidence. Being independent, challenging yourself with different experiences: that was so inspiring. I came back happier, stronger and more confident.”

 

He also found work in retail, dealing with customers and sharpening his sales skills at Shoe Clinic.

 

In 2023, Tom was back wearing a silver fern, representing New Zealand at the World Korfball Championship in Taiwan. Taking on the host on the tournament’s second day remains his proudest moment.

 

“We really clicked that day, forcing the team that ended up taking the silver medal to work so hard to beat us. Our team was totally up for it, and I played my best ever. We won the respect of the Taiwanese, and the rest of the teams.”

 

After such a high however, the next day brought Tom and the team down to earth. During a nothing moment at training he fell badly, rupturing his ankle tendons. That was the end of his tournament, followed the next day by captain Youri Borrink rupturing his anterior cruciate.

 

“Nobody wants to be injured, but since I was, I knew I had to set an example. From the next day on, I had Youri for company, both of us going round on crutches, giving our teammates as much positive energy as we could.”

 

Fifteen months later Tom has taken on two new roles. As well as starting work with Mixx, he’s put his hand up to coach the New Zealand U21 squad at the 2025 Asia Oceania Youth Korfball Championship in China.

 

“Looks like korfball is going to dominate my life even more. I know I have something to offer and I’m looking forward to some big challenges. Although I’m outside my comfort zone, I have good people around me in both roles, and there is so much potential, whether that’s building the base within the Mixx community, or taking a fantastic group of young players on their next steps in korfball.

 

“I’m loving it.”