After sustaining an injury that almost paralysed him, 16-year-old Miandre Moodey persevered through and has now been invited to represent South Africa at the International Club Competition set to take place in Serbia on December 2.
Miandre’s passion for gymnastics began at the age of nine, and he has since become a force to be reckoned with in the sport. As a member of the JGC acrobatic gymnast team, he has dedicated himself to mastering various categories, including horizontal bars, parallel bars, still rings, pommel horse, vault and floor.
“This sport has become second nature to me and has allowed me to quickly climb to the top of my class. Notably, through my hard work and dedication, I skipped a few levels and I’m currently training at level eight.
“I also played rugby and did rowing as an extracurricular activity at school, but my heart remained with gymnastics. It is a sport I’m passionate about, and I love the thrill of practicing my routines and learning new skills,” he shared.
However, disaster struck in April 2024 when Miandre sustained a devastating injury that dislocated his spinal cord, stretched his back nerves, paralysed the right side of his body, and threatened to end his career.
“During this time, I was supposed to compete at level seven, but during a training session, I got injured while doing my rings routine and was rushed to the hospital. I got the news that I might never walk again and that I will never be able to do the sport I love so much. Honestly, I didn’t really feel much in terms of emotion because I just went numb; I felt like my life had ended.
“I started physiotherapy two weeks after the accident. It was one of the most difficult periods in my life, which took a lot of dedication, perseverance, and hard work to get back, but it was worth it in the end.”
His hard work paid off, and in November he was back on track.
“Pretty much starting from the beginning, I had to re-learn many skills and tricks that I had lost after the accident, but I had a great support system, both at home and at the gym, and that helped me fight physically, mentally, and emotionally.”
Now Miandre, and four others from his club, have been selected to attend and participate in the prestigious competition in Serbia. As a three-time national champion and a two-time champion at the gym games, Miandre shared that he is already training hard for Serbia.
“I’m grateful I never gave up. I’m excited and nervous at the same time.
“The level of competition in Serbia is extremely high, but I’m ready for the challenge.”
However, he needs the support of the community and companies to make his Serbian dream a reality. He requires about R 40 000 to cover the costs of his trip.
“Gymnastics has educated me in so many ways and helped me reach many achievements in my life that seemed unimaginable. It has taught me how to work towards my goals, never give up and always strive to be excellent. The community’s help, whether big or small, would go a long way.”
If you’d like to support Miandre on his journey, you can contact his mother, Cencia Moodey, on 079 128 1083 or 081 088 2796.
