'I struggle with performance anxiety. I've had to face my fears': Katelyn Vahaakolo on her breakthrough season
There’s an unapologetic energy to Katelyn Vahaakolo. She is who she is, and doesn’t mind you knowing it.
She describes herself as crazy and passionate but also empathetic and encouraging. She’s a social media star with an exuberant personality….and as it turns out, she’s one heck of a rugby player.
Just try telling Vahaakolo. herself that last part.
“When I was told I was breakthrough player of the year I was genuinely really shocked because I didn’t think I did that amazing, so it shows how hard I am on myself.”
That’s World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year, awarded to Vahaakolo. in November after her first year in the Black Ferns and just three years after she first started dabbling in the game.
After playing netball right through high school, Vahaakolo. was convinced to give rugby league and, shortly after, rugby union a go in 2020. She picked up a contract with the Newcastle Knights in the NRLW in 2021, turned out for the Auckland Storm in rugby’s Farah Palmer Cup, played for the Maori All Stars and then Kiwi Ferns at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup before the Blues, New Zealand Rugby and a fulltime contract came calling.
She took the 2023 season in New Zealand by storm, standing out in a Blues team which had a disappointing Super Rugby Aupiki competition before earning her first Black Ferns selection on the wing in the 50-nil win over Australia in Brisbane. Vaha’akolo went on to play another five tests in 2023 including all three matches in WXV and scored five tries in her debut season.
Despite her whirlwind success, Vahaakolo says she’s grappled with a lot of self-doubt, hence her total shock at winning the World Rugby award.
“I’ve been trying to work on my confidence because I feel like I am capable of performing to a level that’s really amazing but I personally didn’t think that I got to that level. I think I’m very hard on myself and put a lot of pressure on myself when no one else, not coaches or team-mates, was putting any pressure on me.”
Vahaakolo has talked openly about the mental health struggles she’s had throughout her teenage years and into adulthood. Rather than having specific steps in place to deal with it, she believes simply playing, training and being in environments like the Black Ferns, Blues or Auckland performance hub helps to stay on top of things. That said, the step up into top-level international sport has meant delving into the mental side of high performance.
“I’ve had to have a lot of uncomfortable sit downs with our mental skills coach to go over things because I really struggle with performance anxiety. I’ve had to honestly face a lot of my fears and face a lot of the feelings I probably was trying to avoid because I didn’t believe in myself, so I’ve had to learn to be really uncomfortable and be okay with being uncomfortable feeling those things.”
As well as battling performance anxiety she’s also had to learn the intricacies of what can at times be an extremely complicated game, despite having her brother Freedom, who’s played Super Rugby, to call upon. Black Ferns stars Portia Woodman and Kayla Ahki (nee McAlister) are two of the most famous netball players who’ve made a successful switch while many other New Zealand women have a similar background to Vahaakolo. Netball players bring great agility and fabulous handling ability to rugby but she’s had to learn quickly.
“Having good game awareness and game vision is such an important skill in rugby, something that I’m still learning. Especially when you’re talking about the top level, like best in the world level you have to be aware and have really good knowledge around the game, it’s not just about tackling and running fast,” she laughs. “I think before I joined the Black Ferns I just got to run with the ball but there’s so much more to it.”
Vahaakolo, who is of Maori and Tongan descent and a proud Te Reo speaker, is part of a strong group of young Maori and Pacific Island players coming through the Auckland performance hub headed by the great Anna Richards. Vaha’akolo says players like Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Patricia Maliepo and Liana Mikaele-Tu’u have been huge supporters in helping her adapt so quickly while she’s also figured out that keeping things simple is what works best.
“If I practice the skill or the thing that we’re doing that’s putting me under pressure so many times during training, when it comes to a game, I already consciously know what I’m going to do in that pressure situation. Practice doesn’t necessarily make perfect but it does make permanent, so that repetition and what I practice is what I’m going to do,” she says.
She laughs that it has been suggested to her that she’s a little more careful about what she says in interviews, the 23-year-old Vahaakolo is refreshingly honest and thoughtful, taking time to ponder questions and what she wants to say without overthinking any of it.
“I think there’s a stigma around female sport where we have to be humble but I think it’s actually okay to be really confident. I think in the women’s game at the best level you need to have an arrogance when you play.”
2023 may have been a rapid ascent, but with eyes set firmly on being part of the Black Ferns squad for the 2025 World Cup, Vahaakolo goes into this year with a clearer understanding of what makes her tick as a rugby player and how to get the best out of herself.
“The biggest thing that I’ve learned is that everyone around me can believe in me but if I don’t believe in myself I’m not going to be able to perform the way I want, to be able to play freely the way that I would like to,” she reflects.
There’s an innate drive to Vahaakolo. that belies the fun-filled personality. Don’t be fooled by the quirky, often hilarious persona she presents. Although that is exactly who she is, underneath it there’s a drive to be the best.
“I’m really competitive,” she says “I want to say something inspirational, but I just want to be better than everyone. I’m so hungry and I genuinely believe that one day I can be the best.”
If what we’ve seen so far from Katelyn Vahaakolo is anything to go by, she won’t need to come up with inspirational words. She’s a force of nature with the ability to back it up and the drive to reach her goal of being the best. You wouldn’t bet against her.
Comments on RugbyPass
Good summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
1 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
8 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
8 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
5 Go to comments