By Kulani Nkuna
South Africa is no stranger to stories of resilience and triumph, but Johann Meintjes’ journey defies even the highest and most improbable odds. The quadriplegic photographer has not only shattered barriers but rewrite the script of what is possible, becoming the first differently-abled photographer to cover the Olympic Games.
It’s an achievement that challenges entrenched perceptions and personifies a nation’s relentless pursuit of hope in the face of adversity.
For Meintjes, though, who suffered a life-altering spinal cord injury 42 years ago, his Olympic milestone was not just a professional accomplishment— it was the culmination of decades spent wrestling with a fate that sought to put him down, adapting and fighting to carve out a life defined not by limitation but by extraordinary purpose.
This is more than a story of personal triumph. Born in a mining town on the outskirts of Johannesburg, Meintjes was an unstoppable force from an early age. At just 10 years old, he tumbled into gymnastics—a sport as complex and punishing as it is beautiful.
“My parents heard about a gymnastics club starting at Monument High School. They took me to have a look, and from then on, I was hooked,” he recalled.
The need to master six apparatus—rings, high bar, floor, vault, parallel bars, and the infamous pommel horse—demanded a level of discipline that suited the adventurous boy perfectly. By grade seven, he had provincial colours and a South African championship under his belt.
“It was around that time I realised I had a gift. I wanted to see how far I could go.” Gymnastics in 1970s apartheid South Africa, however, was no polished institution. Training was gruelling, with limited resources and funding, and Meintjes’ rise was fuelled almost entirely by raw talent and a relentless drive to compete on the world stage. By his teens, he was representing the country as Springbok gymnast at international competitions, including the World Age Group Championships in Hawaii and later the World Championships in Switzerland.
“It was eye-opening. We saw how far behind we were, but instead of discouraging us, it made us push harder, attempt more daring moves.”
By 1980, Meintjes achieved the unthinkable, finishing fourth at the World Championships in Brigg, Switzerland—a moment that should have cemented his legacy as one of South Africa’s greatest athletes.
But fate had other plans. In February 1982, during trials for the next World Championship team, Meintjes’ life changed in an instant.
“I went too low on a double back somersault and landed on my neck,” his voice unwavering but heavy with memory.
“I knew immediately I was paralysed. I lay there, unable to move, fully conscious of
what had just happened.”
The diagnosis was devastating: a spinal cord injury that left him quadriplegic. At just 23, his dreams of athletic glory were over.
“One moment, I was an athlete at my peak. The next, I had to reckon with a new
reality,” he said. Following surgery, Meintjes began the long, arduous road of building a life from scratch. Teaching had been his profession before the accident, and it became his anchor after it. Returning to the classroom, however, was no simple feat.
“There was no precedent for a disabled teacher back then. I had to prove I could still do the job.” Supported by a principal whose father also used a wheelchair, Meintjes eventually resumed teaching, breaking barriers in a system not built for people in his position.
For 40 years, he inspired generations of students, particularly as a physical education teacher. His methods were unconventional, relying on verbal instruction and student demonstrations, but his impact was undeniable.
“You learn to adapt. To see strengths in others and nurture them.”
Though teaching fulfilled him, gymnastics remained his first love. Photography
became his way back to the sport, a lifeline that allowed him to capture the moments of brilliance he once lived for as an athlete.
“Photography gave me a new way to engage with the sport. “It allowed me to tell stories through the lens that I could no longer tell with my body.”
His craft evolved, bolstered by adaptive technology and an unrelenting pursuit of
excellence. This year, he reached new heights, becoming the first quadriplegic photographer to document the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“It’s a dream come true,” he said, his voice tinged with pride and disbelief.
For Meintjes, the Olympics represent more than a stage for athletic prowess—they are a testament to the boundless possibilities of the human spirit. His lens captures the sweat, tears, and triumph of athletes who share his passion for pushing limits.
And in the process, he has cemented his own place in Olympic history.
As the world celebrates the achievements of athletes during 2024, Meintjes stands
as a beacon of the Olympic spirit—a reminder that greatness is not confined to the
podium. It lives in the quiet determination of those who refuse to be defined by
Adversity.
For Johann Meintjes however; the boy who once dreamed of conquering the
gymnastics floor, has achieved his Olympic dream his own way – through his lenses.
Life has been a journey of unexpected challenges and breathtaking victories. And
with his sights set on LA 2028, the story is far from over.
Meintjes was recently featured on SuperSport’s The Real World Champions series
on its Youtube channel and the channel itself. Despite the attention surrounding his
Olympic achievements, Meintjes insists he hasn’t changed.
“I’m still the same guy, hey,” he said.
“At the Olympics, people would stare because I’m in a wheelchair, but overall, it was a good experience. I hope to use this platform to shine a light on disabled gymnasts in the country.”