Transcript
015: Tanya Muzinda Motocross Rider

Theresa Christine: Welcome to The Wild and Curious Podcast, a show that's part travel, 

Suzanne Schmedding: Part feminism, 

TC: And completely inspired by extraordinary women worldwide. I'm Theresa Christine,

SS: And I'm Suzanne Schmedding.

TC: Did you do any sports when you were a teenager?

SS: Yes, I did.

TC: You did! Oh my God, I can't wait to hear what uncoordinated Suzanne used to do in high school.

SS: What are you talking about? I'm very coordinated, I know you've seen me dance. I was a pitcher for varsity softball, thank you very much.

TC: What?!

SS: Yes. I'm a, I am, 

TC: Varsity?! 

SS: Yes!

TC: Wow. Varsity is like, legit, good.

SS: I know! I'm a little offended!

TC: No, I'm not, I'm not surprised! It's just like, we've literally never talked about the fact that you played varsity softball, and you were the pitcher?

SS: I mean, to be fair, I quit early.

TC: You're like, 'Oh, I'm sorry, I have to stand for 90 minutes? No, thank you.' That's cool, though. I would like, definitely rest my laurels on that. 

SS: What about you? 

TC: I was a gymnast. 

SS: Oh, that's right. 

TC: I did gymnastics. I started when, I think I was in kindergarten. And I did it all the way till I was 16 years old. You get hips when you go through puberty and like, boobs, and it totally throws off your center of gravity. 

SS: Right. 

TC: And so, once that happened to me, it was like, it was just watching an elephant on the beam, you know? 

SS: Aw, pal!

TC: No, but I think it's cool to watch people who are really accelerating in the sport that they're doing. And we talk about it in this discussion with our guest. But I guess I just didn't think about the fact that motocross is such an intense sport, like, you think you're just riding, and it's like a motorized vehicle. But you need to have all of these muscles and strength and resilience to navigate and then also mental capacity to handle it all. 

SS: Well, and the jumps too! Like, the suspension and you know, like that lift and then getting back on gracefully. That's, oooh!

TC: Today we're talking with a young motocross star and champion. And it's just, it's so cool to hear about her experiences, because she, not only is she doing this in a male dominated sport, but it's like, she's not even 18 yet.

SS: Tanya Muzinda, who we are talking to is a motocross rider from Zimbabwe. She came in third in her first international race in the UK. She has been recognized by the United Nations as an honorary ambassador for gender, youth and sport, and has won Sports Woman of Southern Africa.

Tanya Muzinda: So, I think, when I look at sports that females do, when we think of tennis, we think of Serena Williams. When we think of swimming, I think of our own athlete, Kirsty Coventry, these popular names. But, when we look at motocross, you don't really hear like much female names. There's probably Livia Lancelot. She's one of the biggest people in there. But I wanted to dominate it for like, people of color. Because in motocross, it's known as an expensive sport. And most people of color, they don't believe that a child should be doing something so expensive and so dangerous. So I wanted to show other people out there that anything is possible. It doesn't matter what race you are, what size you are, where you come from anything as possible.

TC: That's so cool. And when, when you're actually on your bike, what does it like, what is the feeling of being on this bike and riding around,

T M: Um, the feeling is so amazing, it's like a roller coaster ride for about 20 minutes. That's what it feels like to me and you just feel like a bird especially when you jump, you feel in control of the bike, of your own body. And it's all about calculating stuff. It's I can relate it to maths. You're given a maths paper and you you don't know what's going to be on the paper. You just have to know what exactly you're supposed to do. And I think that's why maybe I love it so much.

TC: That's a good comparison. 

SS: Yeah, no, absolutely. Okay, so you've mentioned that, you know, it's, it's a very expensive sport and, and it's maybe a very white sport. What are some other challenges of getting into motocross?

T M: Um, I think for me, my biggest challenge would be financial problems. Because motocross already is an expensive sport. A bike alone, that's like 10,000. And you can't only have one bike, you need to have a racing bike, an extra bike, and a practice bike. So roughly 30,000, and you need your kits, you need your medical aid, you need..and these bikes, you can't put them in the boot of your car, especially now, in like, in my racing age, the bikes are bigger, so you need to get a bigger car or maybe a trailer, or even like a minivan. So, all these expenses, they have to go into your sport. And it's not like you're getting paid from the sport, like after you win, you get a big amount of money. It's not even like that at all. 

TC: Really? I would have expected you win and like, you get some kind of prize, like, some money from it. That's crazy. 

T M: Yeah. So um, and again, since I come from Zimbabwe, and Africa, the sport is not that big at all, we probably have, in total, 100 riders in the whole of the country. And if you want to succeed, and you have to go to different countries, and that's flight, booking a hotel, renting a bike, and all these... so much expenses, and you need to be like quite rich, if you want to do it. So I think for me, that would be my biggest challenge.

TC: Yeah, how I mean, how did you kind of deal with that barrier to entry of the financial side of things?

T M: It hasn't been easy at all. I don't know how my dad does it. But he has always found a way to make sure that I'm always at the track. Although sometimes it's, unfortunately, that I will not be able to do a certain race or practice or go abroad, but he somehow finds a way to get me all the sponsors and the funds that I need to do.

TC: I love that. 

SS: Oh, my gosh, that's so amazing to have that support. And honestly, it just, it makes it kind of more amazing that you come from Zimbabwe where it's not a huge sport, and you know, there are all these challenges, and you've still done it, like, you still have this passion. I think that's so great.

T M: Thank you.

TC: So, motocross is a male dominated sport. And not only are you a woman, but you're a young woman, and how are you treated differently when you are on the track? 

T M: Well, being a girl in any male dominated sport, I think you do get some discrimination. I know some boys that don't even talk to me. Like, even back in my country. I don't have friends at the motocross track because, because their parents they shout at them like, 'How can you be beaten by a girl? He is supposed to be better than her, supposed to be stronger, faster, more intelligent than her' and I'm on the tribe beating them like it's nothing. Obviously, you're gonna get discrimination. So, I've always learned to keep my head, my head up and focus on winning.

TC: Yeah, you kind of like, you can't listen to the negative people.

SS: No. 

TC: Like, you really just have to be in it and doing it because you love it.

T M: Yeah.

SS: One of my favorite magnets says 'Boys are dumb, throw rocks at them.' Which I think is really appropriate for these boys who don't want to be your friends. But, you do have, you do have your female coach, Stefy Bau, who is a former professional Motocross and Supercross racer herself, right? 

T M: Yes. 

SS: What is that, like working with her? 

T M: Working with her has been the most life changing experience. I've accomplished so much more because she had already been into the motocross industry for the longest time since she was four years old. And she was actually one of the first female racers to race against boys in like big, big competitions where girls are not, are not allowed to ride with the boys. She was the first one to actually be on the same level with them. And I think it's been so amazing. She's, like, part of family to me, I consider as family, and I'm just so grateful for her.

TC: I read something about you reached out to her or your dad had and she was sort of like, 'This is weird.' And then when she went and met you, it was this great, inspiring thing.

T M: Yeah. I remember she said when she saw the email, she thought it was a scam. And then she ignored me. And then my dad sent me another one. And then she said 'Hmm. Maybe, maybe it's not a scam.'

TC: And it's great, too, that she can kind of commiserate with you and like talk about how, how men and how boys on the track are kind of jerks. You're like, kicking their butts on, in, on your bike, you know?

T M: Yeah.

TC: What competitions are you gearing up for right now? Or like, what are you working towards?

T M: Um, so before Coronavirus there was this race called Loretta Lynn and [inaudible], that was the race that I came here to do. But unfortunately, because of the pandemic, all races have been canceled or postponed to next year. So currently, I'm just waiting to see what the community says about the races, whether or not there are going to be any races this year. So we're just waiting for that.

TC: But you're still training? 

T M: Yes, I am. I recently got a new bike, which was really good news, 

TC: Whoo! 

T M: Some of motocross tracks, they have been closed, and especially like, I'm living in Florida. So the cases actually went up. So that is kind of a disadvantage for me, because it means most tracks they are now closed again.

SS: That is a bummer. 

T M: Yeah. 

SS: But you are training, you're getting ready, you're gonna be tough and strong and faster than ever. So, I have to know, what are you doing to make sure that you are ready for the next competition? I know, there's a lot of training involved. 

T M: So for my training routine, um, I wouldn't say I'm the best at keeping up with it, because I prefer to train in the gym, it's really hard at home, and my room next to my bed. 

TC: Yeah, that's impossible.

T M: And I get, I get distracted a lot, but I usually follow like YouTube videos, or even this, like fitness apps, there's so many fitness apps, and I can just follow them and copy them. And I've been trying to be more consistent and eating healthy. And being consistent in my trainings and running every single day.

SS: I also have the same problems with working out by my bed, but it's got far less consequences.

T M: Yeah.

SS: My pants are just getting tighter. Okay, so while you're waiting, and while you're training, I know there are some other projects that you're working on and that you're promoting to help your home country. Do you want to talk a little bit about that?

T M: Yeah, so basically, in Zimbabwe, uh, Zimbabwe used to be, it still is an amazing country. I love the country, that's my home. But it's kind of sad to see like, comparing my life, back when I was maybe 10 years old. Everything wasn't as hard. Even like in sports. We had many competitors. But now over the years, less people have thrown their kids out of this world because they can't afford it. And because of the economy. So we're fighting for corruption. We've been fighting for the longest time, and we're trying to raise awareness. And it's really scary to even talk about it. Because most people in Zimbabwe, they're scared to raise their voice because they can get abducted, they can get raped, they can, there are so many things that happen to them. And we're just, I feel like people are starting to be like, finding the voice to raise more awareness for that. And I just really hope that everything will be back to normal in Zimbabwe. 

SS: Wow.

TC: Yeah, that, that sounds terrible. But it's great that you are working towards improving that situation. And, you know, you have such a deep love for your home country.

T M: I do.

TC: When you are not motocrossing, when you are not, you know, helping your home country, 

SS: Championing? 

TC: Championing, what are, I mean, you're, you're still a teenager like, what, what do you do in your downtime? What are some of your passions outside of motocross?

T M: So, some of my passions, I would say, like, DIY project, I, you know, like making your own [inaudible], like, cutting out t-shirts to make new outfits, trying out new make-up looks, new hairstyles. And, I feel like most people when I say that, they're like, 'Wow, you actually do that?' Because they think I'm only into motocross, but I love like, fashion and makeup, nd I would be on both sides.

TC: Hearing her talk about people being surprised that she's into fashion and makeup?

SS: Yeah! 

TC: I was like, oh, yeah, you know, people want other people to live in boxes, they want to be able to like categorize you. 

SS: Yeah. 

TC: So, and especially women, they're like, 'Oh, you're a mom, oh, you're this, Oh, like this is your role', but giving women this freedom and space to exist. It's like a badass motocross rider, and also like a teenage girl who likes to watch makeup tutorials on YouTube. What about you? What, was there anything that stood out when she was talking? Were you like, daaang?

SS: Two things. As you know, I always think that I should try whatever our guests are talking about because they're all so passionate about it. And then, when she was first talking about doing motocross, I was like, 'No. No, I will not be trying this sport.' 

TC: Not at all? 

SS: No. No, it, it sounds too, too scary and hard for me, which makes me even more in awe of her.

TC: And I mean, even if you were seriously interested, like, you really have to commit from the beginning, you have to be like, cool, I'm gonna buy a $10,000 bike now.

SS: And the other thing that really stood out to me was, was when she was talking about her country, and the politics and what's going on right now and how it's so much in the media. And she's, you know, she's not even there right now. But she's just, she's fighting for it. She's trying to make people aware of it. And, I think she's just an astonishing young woman.

TC: She's mentioned before, how the boys on the track are, like, more interested in beating her because she's a girl.

SS: Oh yeah! 

TC: Which, I was like, Ooh, that's, that's dirty. Don't like that.

SS: Yeah, I, I saw something when I was first starting to research her. And, as she gave this interview, where she said that like the, you know, she thought that they might have left her alone, or looked at her as not as much of a competitor until she started really winning. And then these guys like, she actually made them put forth an even harder effort, which, on the one hand, it's like, 'boys, you're being dirty,' But on the other hand, I'm like, good for you. You're giving them a run for their money and like forcing them not to be lazy, because they can't, they can't count you out.

TC: For me, I'm, I'm glad that you were able to see the positive side of things. I was like, I was just like, men are so fragile. That they're like, oh, there's a woman here? Okay, I don't I don't care if I do anything else except beat her. You know, that, that was the side that I saw. But I'm, I, I really like what you pointed out just that it, you know, competition is a good thing. And competition in co-ed sports is, is also a good thing. So it's great that like, Tanya has been able to inspire people to be even better at their sport.

SS: Well, and I think the real winning point here is that, yes, she's inspired them to be better and to work harder...and she still beat them. 

TC: Daaaaamn. 

SS: Like, even at their best. 

TC: If you'd like to learn more about Tanya or donate to help her in her trainings and competitions, head to tanyamuzinda.com. That's t-a-n-y-a-m-z-i-n-d-a.com You can also find her on Instagram at @tanyamuzinda. If you enjoy listening to The Wild and Curious Podcast and would like to contribute to helping us make this thing run, you can! You can Venmo us at @thewildandcurious or via paypal at paypal.me/wildlandcurious. Anything you send, big or small, will go towards the costs of running a podcast that's dismantling the patriarchy.

SS: It means so much to us when people rate our show on iTunes and leave reviews. We read those sweet nothings and yes, we cry about them. We also love it when people send our podcasts to someone who they think will enjoy it. Feminists sharing feminist content is the best.