Dorien Motten is a Belgian – Georgian gymnast. She is born in Bilzen, Belgium. In July 2018 she graduated from Ghent University as a veterinarian and is affiliated with Olympia Houthalen and Topsport centre Tbilisi Georgia.
From 2009 to 2016, she was a member of the Belgian gymnastics team, with which she participated in the 2014 European Championships in Sofia and the 2015 World Championships in Glasgow. She also became a national champion in the German Bundesliga seven times. She also won gold on the vault at the WOGA Classic in Texas in 2020, which was held at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas, from 31 January to 2 February.
Since December 2022, she has had dual Belgian-Georgian nationality. The intention was to participate with the Georgian delegation in the 2023 European Championship in Antalya. However, she had to withdraw due to an injury to the ligaments of her right elbow. She has been the German team champion MTV Stuttgart.
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar catches up with Dorien Motten an exceptionally talented Belgian – Georgian gymnast, winner of gold medal on the vault at the 2020 WOGA Classic in Texas, here she talks about her fitness routine, her diet, and her success story.
Namita Nayyar:
You were born in Bilzen, Belgium. Where did you have your early education? Your mother put you into gymnastics classes at an early age. You in July 2018 graduated from Ghent University as a veterinarian. You from 2009 to 2016 were a member of the Belgian gymnastics team, with which you participated in the 2014 European Championships in Sofia and the 2015 World Championships in Glasgow. This later propelled your career to the height where for you became the leading Belgian – Georgian gymnast. Tell us more about your professional journey of exceptional hard work, tenacity, and endurance?
Dorien Motten:
I started gymnastics officially when I was 4 years old in the local club of Bilzen where we lived. My mom who had been a gymnast herself was coaching the high level group and took me with her to training sessions already as a baby. I basically grew up in the gym. I was first coached by Karin; she was as former Belgian national team member and competed at European and world Championships for Belgium. I was not an easy kid but she was great with me. When I was around 10 years old I moved on to the high level group and was coached by my mom. It was both a blessing and a challenge to be coached by my mom as a teenager. I was very stubborn and sometimes we would still argue about stuff that happened in training at the dinner table in the evening. But now looking back I must say she did such a good job with me.
I ended up in the Belgian national team, which was my biggest dream. Here in Belgium we have a ‘central system’ which means every gymnast on the team has to train in the national training center in Ghent. I had to leave my home, my mom, my family and friends to go live and train in Ghent. What was my biggest dream turned into one of my biggest nightmares. I was a very positive person, always laughing when I would fall or make a mistake and then I would get back up to try again. That changed after more than a year in the national team. The coaching style was based on fear and terror. They isolated us from our family and made it very clear that they had our dreams in their hands.
It was horrible years I spend there and now looking back I don’t know how I survived that. I do know there is one thing I would always say to myself to keep going: ‘I will not let them take my dreams, if I quit they win so I’m not quitting’. In 2016 I finally decided it was enough, even though I was in the Olympic preselection. It was just not worth that much suffering. Gymnastics is a tough sport and I really like that but there is a difference between tough coaching and abuse. Unlike most of my teammates that quit and never wanted to see a gym from the inside again, I decided to go back to my home club. I started training with my mom again, just for fun.
My mom gave me the love for gymnastics back and we were an awesome team together. We started competing several different leagues around Europe which slowly gave me my confidence back. I started to reach my highest level and after the University Games, where I placed in the around and vault finals, we decided to try again for a spot on the national team. On our terms. The coaches I left in 2016 were still in charge and it was immediately clear they would not give me any chance to compete for Belgium. I still kept trying for over 3 years but they would always have explanation why I did not make the team. It was difficult to work so hard, really deserving a spot on that team but never getting what I deserved. Nevertheless I was not giving up.
After several years of being a successful team with my mother as my coach fate struck. My mom passed away very unexpectedly. This was the biggest setback I experienced in my life and it was a hard struggle to make it back to the competition floor on my own. I knew immediately that I wasn’t done with gymnastics. I needed to go back into the gym and work hard to accomplish our goals, the ones we set together. With the support of my family, closest friends and a big part of the gymnastics community I made it back. I will always be grateful for that.
In January 2023 I started a new chapter in my gymnastics career, competing for a new country, Georgia. I was very determined to reach the goals I had set for myself together with my new team. Starting with the world cup series that would lead up to the European Championships. There I would try to qualify for world Championships and this would be the path towards the Olympic Games. Sadly, I had a setback again. The day before leaving for my first world cup I dislocated my elbow. I needed surgery and at least 6 months of rehabilitation. Luckily one of the best elbow surgeons in the world worked in the hospital close to my hometown and I had the surgery there.
It was a long road to full recovery of my elbow. Because of my elbow I was not able to get to my full potential and qualify for the Olympics this year. That was really hard for me. The weeks before I dislocated my elbow I finally felt good again, I was finally where I wanted to be after all I had been through. It was not meant to be this year but I am sure there is a plan for me and I’m going to have faith that I will get there in the end. I’m starting the new Olympic cycle with a positive mindset!
Full Interview is Continued on Next Page
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President of womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or full anywhere without express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2025 Women Fitness
Namita Nayyar:
You won gold medal on the vault at the WOGA Classic in Texas in 2020. The 2020 WOGA Classic was held at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas from January 31 to February 2. Tell us more about this spectacular achievement of yours?
Dorien Motten:
The WOGA Classic of 2020 was a wonderful experience. I finally believed in myself again and had so much joy in the gym and on the competition floor. I thought I was going there for experience to start the new competition season again, I had no medal expectations. This competition is very popular and there are always a lot of elite gymnasts from around the world competing. I did not think of myself as a contender for a medal. I guess I underestimated myself again (as I learned to do in Ghent) because I went home with not just a medal, it was the gold medal! It was one of the highlights of my career. It felt like that year was going to be such a big one for my gymnastics career and I was so ready for that. Sadly a few weeks later the Covid lockdown started and all competitions were canceled. A few weeks after that my mom passed away and the year I thought would be one of the best I ever had turned out to be the worst.
Namita Nayyar:
What in your career as a gymnast acted as a catalyst in your metriotic rise as a world leading artistic gymnast player?
Dorien Motten:
My mom played the biggest role here. She gave me the passion for gymnastics. To this day I am grateful to live by her legacy. She was the one always believing in me, even when I did not believe in myself anymore. She believed I could make all my dreams come true and she would always support me. That’s the reason I am still going today. I work very hard every day to show her I was worth believing in. I am going to make our dreams come true, I promise. I will not quit until I’ve made it. For her, for us.
Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you may wish to share?
Dorien Motten:
My main workouts are of course in the gymnastics hall. I train all four events (vault, bars, beam and floor) every day. Besides that I do have strength and conditioning session every day. I do squats and deadlifts for leg strength, pull and push-ups for my upper body and a general core circuit for keeping my body tight and strong.
Namita Nayyar:
How do you train your abs? One secret to your toned body.
Dorien Motten:
For abs I do have a normal routine. Sit-ups, leg raises. Nothing special I would say. I do not think there is a magical solution or exercise to have nice abs. It’s just a combination of working out every day, being consistent and eating healthy.
Namita Nayyar:
Do you take a special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Dorien Motten:
I do have a strict diet but I’m fine with that. I love healthy food so it’s not too hard for me. Of course I do eat chocolate or something sweet sometimes but it’s important to know when you can be a little less strict and when you have to stay focused on your diet. I also think it is very important to know that food is fuel. To train as hard as I do every day and not get injured I need a lot of fuel so I will never deprive myself from food. I just eat the right things that my body needs to perform well.
Namita Nayyar:
Five foods you absolutely love and five you keep to a minimum.
Dorien Motten:
Eggs, Skyr, Homemade granola, organic meat and very black chocolate will always be in my diet plan. Highly processed food, fried food, sugar, seed oils and non-organic meat are the kind of foods I’m avoiding as much as possible.
Namita Nayyar:
You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Share with us your hair care and skincare routine.
Dorien Motten:
I don’t use a lot of skincare I must admit. I just use a cleanser in the morning and evening followed by an organic moisturizing crème. What help a lot for my skin are the collagen ampules I’m taking. I do take them mainly for my tendons but I’ve noticed it also makes a difference for my skin. I wash my hair with organic shampoo and conditioner. I think it’s important to not use a lot of chemicals on my skin and hair. I like natural products.
Namita Nayyar:
You had Gabrielle Brepoels, Thomas Gielen and Nico Zijp as your coaches who have been a catalyst who helped you pave the way to rise in your career with discipline and a never stopping attitude. Elaborate about their influence on your professional life?
Dorien Motten:
Gabrielle, who is my mom, was of course the most important person in my gymnastics career. After she passed away I was lost and did not know where to go. Nico was a good friend of my mom and we would go to his gym from time to time because it was better than the one we had in Bilzen. He would often watch me during training and give tips on how I could do things better.
I always liked his positive approach so when I lost my mom it was a logical decision to go to Nico’s gym and work with him. Thomas, who is now my husband, also stepped in when I needed him. He is a power lifter and helped my mom making my strength and conditioning programs. As my mom was not there anymore he started being in the gymnastics hall with me more and more and learned a lot there too. I am very grateful for Thomas and Nico saving me when I really needed it.
Namita Nayyar:
Five athletic leisure brands you love to wear.
Dorien Motten:
I like to wear Adidas, Puma, Nike and Under Armor at the moment. For my leotards I love wearing the Dutch brand ‘KV Leotards’, they are so comfortable to wear and very easy to wash (which is a big thing for leotards).
Namita Nayyar:
Five travel destinations on your wish list.
Dorien Motten:
Hawaii, Maldives, Cuba, French Polynesia and New Zealand.
Namita Nayyar:
Quote you live by.
‘Whatever you want to do in life, do it now. There are only so many tomorrows’
Namita Nayyar:
Tell us about a day in the life of ‘Dorien Motten’.
Dorien Motten:
I wake up and always try to have breakfast outside. I love to be outside. After breakfast I do my first training session of the day which is mainly strength and conditioning combined with physio exercises for my knees and shoulders. Then it’s time for lunch together with my husband, I cherish these little moments because we do not have a lot of time together.
After lunch I leave for my second session which is in the gym. I spend around 5 hours there and after that I come home for an hour of cycling on my home trainer. At 8 PM it’s time for making my diner while I watch some NCAA gymnastics. After diner I spend some time reading while I use my recovery boots. To end the day I take a warm bath with magnesium salt to recover my muscles and at 10:30 PM it’s time for bed.
Namita Nayyar:
During the Covid pandemic. Tell us more about your routine to remain fit in those challenging times?
Dorien Motten:
Covid was a difficult time for all gymnasts. It’s hard for us to train outside or in our living rooms without all the materials and apparatuses we normally have in the gym. We all bought air tracks and little bars to use in our garden and train as much basic skills we could possible do in these conditions.
The strength and conditioning was easier to do although I’m used to do a lot of strength with weights which I didn’t have at home. Now I have a little home gym with all the stuff I need in case I cannot go to the gym anymore. I do hope we will never have a lockdown again!
Namita Nayyar:
You wanted to participate with the Georgian delegation in the 2023 European Championship in Antalya. However, you had to withdraw due to an injury to the ligaments of your right elbow. In sports like gymnastics how were you able to overcome any physical or sports injury setbacks and what advices can you give to those in a similar situation.
Dorien Motten:
That was a huge setback for me and I must admit it was not easy to overcome. I had a lot of injuries during my career already but most of them would just take a period of rest or adjusted training. My elbow needed surgery and at least 6 months of recovery before I could go back to gymnastics. That was very long time without flipping and twisting, only strength, rehab and conditioning. It took a whole other mindset to get through this.
A lot of patience and focus on healing my body instead of pushing it to its limits. It’s important to have a very good team around you in these situations. I had one of the best elbow surgeons of Europe doing my surgery and the best physio in Belgium to do my rehab with. Mentally I had a lot of support of my husband, my friends and family. They all believed I would be able to come back stronger and supported me through the whole process. My advice is to trust the process, be patient and have a good support team around you.
Namita Nayyar:
What do you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and the message for its visitors?
Dorien Motten:
I think Womenfitness.net is really worth to check out! Women sports are so undervalued and all the attention always goes to male sports. It’s good to have some media sources like Womenfitness.net that bring the attention to the strong women in sports. It’s so important to empower each other and show the world what we ladies can do. We barely have any financial support compared to men’s sports and it’s hard to get sponsor deals as a woman.
Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding gymnast girls, who all are your fans and shall like to know from you for their climb to the ladder of success in the field of gymnastics?
Dorien Motten:
All I can say is to never give up. That sounds cliché but it is this mindset that got me where I am right now. With every setback people would say ‘just give up Dorien, it’s not meant to be for you. Grow up and quit gymnastics. Go do a normal job’. That would have been the easy road to take but I did not want that. I still have plans, goals and dreams. I am not giving up; I’ll keep going until I, myself, decide I’m done.
Never let people tell you what to do or who to be. Trust yourself and do what you need to do to be the person you always wanted to be. You only have one life so live it the way you want. There will be hard times and dark moments, that’s part of it all. And in these times it is your discipline that will get you through. Just keep working as hard as you can and in the end you’ll get what you worked for, what you deserve. It may take a lot longer then you expected but keep going, don’t give up! I really hope that can change in the future!
Namita Nayyar:
A message for your ardent Instagram admirers.
Dorien Motten:
I want to thank them! It’s heartwarming how much love and support I get from my followers. It feels good to be able to inspire them to go for their dreams. I don’t want to impress people with my story, I want to inspire. Every time a little gymnast tells me ‘one day I want to be as good as you are’ I feel proud. Even if I don’t reach my own goals in the end I was able to show people how far you can come with a positive mindset and some hard work. That’s what matters.
Dorien Motten Social Media Presence
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorienmotten/
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President of womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or full anywhere without express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2025 Women Fitness