DREAM,
BELIEVE,
ACHIEVE
As a joke, my mother once said to me when I was a girl: ‘Dear Gayle, you're already doing swimming, jazz ballet and line dancing. I've got no money left to let you play badminton as well.’ An uncle had told my mother she should let me play at a club, because he had quickly noticed that I could hit a decent shuttle.
Nowadays I'm involved in badminton full-time. I've won some great titles in recent years. Perhaps the finest are becoming Dutch Champion in women's singles three times, in 2014, 2017 and 2018, and winning the bronze medal at the 2019 European Mixed Team Championships.
By following my passion, I've been able to play in more than 30 countries. I've been able to capture my adventures in videos on my YouTube channel. In this way, I hope to be a source of inspiration for younger Moluccan generations. My great goal is to become so good at badminton that I can compete for titles at the highest international level. That's why I now train and live in Denmark. Here in Holbaek too, I need willpower, discipline and determination. I often think of the strength of the generations before me, especially my mother and my grandmother. Both incredibly strong women. I have great admiration for their strength and love. God's love and faithfulness, too, keep showing me that anything is possible, as long as you believe and keep persevering.
Gayle is 3rd generation. First-generation names are Mahulette and Leasa. Village of origin in the Moluccas is Latuhalat on the island of Ambon.
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Person portrayed
Gayle Mahulette
(1993, Arnhem)
Professional badminton player
Lives in Arnhem - Photographer Ed Leatemia
