Para gymnastics get a lift
As part of the programme, SA's para gymnastics co-ordinator visited the Pinetown Gymnastics Club on Thursday, June 26.
Meintjies, the world's first quadriplegic photographer to shoot at the Olympic Games, is engaging provincial gymnastics structures to assess needs and growth areas as there is a huge possibility that gymnastics will be included in the Paralympics 2032 event.
Also read: World-record-holding Paralympian aims to break more records
Meintjies suffered a spinal cord injury during a gymnastics competition 42 years ago, resulting in the loss of use of all four limbs. His spirit and love for sports pushed him to reconnect with his passion from behind the camera lens.
Before the injury he was an elite South African gymnast in tumbling and trampoline and represented SA at multiple world championships in the late 1970s.
He said people with visual difficulties, hearing, intellectual and physical challenges can do gymnastics and excel.
'It does not matter even if you have one leg or one arm, we appeal for the people to try the sport,' he said.
Pinetown Gymnastics club manager Allan Chadwick said it was an honour to have Meintjies at the club.
'I toured the USA with him when he was a junior gymnast, he was one of my first appointments as national coach.'
The Pinetown club has members that have competed at the Down Syndrome Gymnastics World Championships
Chadwick, who is also the chairman of the Gymnastics South Africa Local Organising Committee, said the first gymnast with Down Syndrome to start in Pinetown was Charles Phillips, in 2000, at the age of 11.
'These classes have become the highlight of the boys' week and are headed by our outstanding coach, Faricao Moses, assisted by Gerand Petersen, who both have a wonderful combination of energy, patience and enthusiasm for the young gymnasts,' said Chadwick.
For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
Click to subscribe to our newsletter here
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
36 minutes ago
- The South African
'He made it easy for me': Mofokeng praises Pirates new signing
Orlando Pirates winger Relebohile Mofokeng was full of praise for new signing Oswin Appollis following the club's 1-1 draw with Pafos on Sunday morning. The Buccaneers conceded an early goal but came back to equalise through Mofokeng. The 20-year-old received a sublime pass from Appollis to net his first goal of the pre-season. Speaking after the match, Mofokeng said Appollis made things easier for him. Both players are wingers; however, they were able to complement each other. 'It was a perfect [pass]. I think he made it easy for me on the ground. It was a better touch,' Mofokeng told SuperSport TV . 'When you are a winger, you must be able to play both [wings], you know. If you can't play both, then you can't be a winger. So, I think you can balance the two,' he added. Appollis explained how the pass came about. With the Buccaneers pushing for an equaliser, the players started making movements which then opened up the Pafos defence 'I saw Rele already moving, and I saw the space between the centre-back and the left-back,' the new Pirates signing said. 'So, it was going to be difficult if I hit it in the sky. I had to thread it through between the centre back and the left back. And it was a good touch by Rele to take it in front of him because if it touched him [wrongly], it's a penalty.' 'You know, there's a lot of work to be done, you know. What we wanted to win is positive. We did most of the stuff that the coach is asking, and we will just continue doing our best on the field,' Appollis said. With one new signing already impressing during pre-season, the Buccaneers will hope that more new players could join the party and shine in the coming weeks. The Buccaneers next play Spanish second-tier outfit Las Palmas on Thursday evening, with the game kicking off at 17:00 (SAST). Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
7 hours ago
- The South African
Female fans crush on single Siya Kolisi after Rachel's crying post
Siya Kolisi has attracted a flurry of attention from female admirers after the Springboks returned to his hometown of Gqeberha. The captain of the South African rugby team is newly single after splitting from his former wife, Rachel Kolisi, last October. Although the Springbok captain sat out the game against Italy over an injury 'niggle', Siya Kolisi kept himself busy in the lead up to the game by spending time with friends and family in his hometown of Gqeberha. On matchday, Siya brought out the Webb Ellis trophy for the crowd gathered at the Nelson Mandela Stadium. In pictures posted on the Springboks' social media account, Siya was seen getting a lot of love from his hometown fans, including his female ones. One image saw a fan hold up a handwritten poster that read: 'Hey Siya, I only came to C ya. #crush'. In the image were several beautiful ladies who smiled in a selfie taken by him. Meanwhile, Siya Kolisi's TikTok video of him happily dancing in public has attracted mixed views after his former wife, Rachel Kolisi, posted her own video of her crying amid an anxiety attack. Rachel shared an emotional post about going through a divorce and the difficulties in co-parenting. At several points, the former Springbok WAG burst into tears. @siyakolisi There's no place like home 🕺🏾 I love being in GQ! #southafrica #gqeberha ♬ iWalk Ye Phara (feat. Moonchild Sanelly, K.O & Zulu Mkhathini) – DJ Maphorisa & DJ Raybel While many sympathised with Rachel, others didn't believe her emotional state should influence her ex, Siya. @vickeydouglas283: 'So he must cry because she is crying? Guys, life is not a Nigerian movie' @nozipee: 'I'm happy he's not showing the world what it wants to see….. heal in private. They wanna see you crash out so bad' @thembisil.e: 'Argh man, he's just living his life'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
7 hours ago
- The South African
'Passport is ready': Mama Joy to support MaMkhize's new club?
South Africa's most recognisable sports supporter, Mama Joy – real name Joy Chauke – has pledged her allegiance to MaMkhize's new soccer club, Mbalane Highlanders AM FC. This comes months after the businesswoman's South African team, Royal AM, for which Chauke was an unofficial ambassador, was expelled from the PSL. Over the weekend, MaMkhize confirmed that she had inked a three-year presidency deal with the eSwatini club. In a post on her X account, Mama Joy not only praised MaMkhize's new venture as Mbalane Highlanders AM FC president but also offered her support. She posted: 'Mbabane Highlanders Am FC, we are ready to cross the border to Eswatini. Passports are ready.' In another post, she shared about MaMkhize: 'Back with a bang'. Just a few months ago, Mama Joy – who branded herself as 'Royal AM's number one fan', shared an emotional post about the end of the road for the club. Posting a collage of pics of her supporting Thwili Thwala, she shared: 'It's over…thanks Ma for giving me an opportunity to be Royal Am superfan. You treated me with dignity, with love, like one of your family members. I enjoyed [it] and thank other Royal Am supporters for showing me love. Royal Am was my family.' Mama Joy went on to post that she now faced 'no home' in the PSL. In 2023, Mama Joy denied reports that she was on MaMkhize's payroll as a then Royal AM supporter. Speaking on Robert Marawa's Marawa Sports Worldwide , Chauke admitted she was friends with the businesswoman and often attended the PSL club games. Mama Joy and MaMkhizeImages via X: @joychauke5 When Robert bluntly asked if MaMkhize paid her for her unofficial ambassadorship, she responded: 'No. People are going to say, 'You chowed Mamkhize's money'. I don't know what to say! 'I'm a Royal AM supporter, and she will follow me and check in on me. I don't get paid by her for what I do. I do it for the love of the game'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
