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Karate twins Mishela and Marijana Dimoska double down on Olympic dream

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Steve ButlerThe West Australian
Mishela and Marijana Dimoska hope to compete in the nation’s green-and-gold colours at next year’s Tokyo Olympic Games.
Camera IconMishela and Marijana Dimoska hope to compete in the nation’s green-and-gold colours at next year’s Tokyo Olympic Games. Credit: Ross Swanborough

Identical twins Mishela and Marijana Dimoska are fighting against the clock, red tape and possibly even each other in a bid to live out the Olympic dream their parents always wanted.

The Macedonian karate stars are banking on the Australian Olympic Committee to help them fast-track their way to a new passport Down Under so they can compete in the nation’s green-and-gold colours at next year’s Tokyo Olympic Games.

The Dimoskas, whose parents Zlatko and Eli are now influential karate officials, moved to Perth in November, 2016 after receiving distinguished talent visas. But the rising 21-year-olds cannot compete at the Olympics unless they have an Australian passport after notifying Macedonian officials that they would not represent that country.

They also rejected relocation offers from Hong Kong and New Zealand and were not allowed to take part in a recent Oceania tournament in Sydney. The Australian Karate Federation has sent a letter of support to the AOC for help to fast-track the citizenship bid.

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“We are starting now to try and speed up the process for citizenship,” Mishela said.

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“We had to wait for our first two years here in Australia to start the procedure, but we are taking the steps to get the citizenship as soon as possible. Our parents had the Olympic dream, but karate was not in the Olympics, so now we have the chance.

“They hope that we can have their dream. It would mean a lot.”

There are only 10 spots to be filled in the Tokyo Olympics by qualifying athletes from around the world. The Dimoskas are building points through premier league events and are hoping to represent Australia in next year’s Oceania event before the Olympics to secure their spots.

The WA Institute of Sport scholarship holders are ranked first and second in Australia. If nine other athletes from around the globe have higher ranking points than them, they may be battling against each other for the final position.

The virtually inseparable, beach-loving twins, whose father is now the head coach for the Australian national team, have already represented Australia five times in international competition. They also plan to start studying sports science at Murdoch University in July.

Marijana said life was better in Australia, especially with the extra opportunities it offered in sport. Mishela said they were embracing the country switch they had craved.

“It was like a dream for us since we were little to live in Australia – not just for me and Marijana, but also for our parents,” Mishela said.

“We wanted to live somewhere where the ocean was near and Australia was one of the best choices for that. We are 24 hours together and we cannot breathe without each other … we do everything together.”

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