Mundie’s golden haul makes splash at titles
WHEN he was just six months old, Joel Mundie was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder that attacked his spinal cord and left him in a wheelchair.
A fiercely determined young man, the Edmonton teen took up swimming at age 11 as a form of fitness, but soon discovered the feeling of freedom that being in the water brought to his legs.
Fast forward three years and 14-year-old Mundie has returned from the Queensland state titles in Brisbane with eight gold medals around his neck and 10 Australian records to his name.
But, despite his recent successes, the teen sensation said his passion for swimming had little to do with winning.
“It’s just the team atmosphere — everyone’s cheering for each other and encouraging them,” he said. “It’s just great fun.”
AN EDMONTON swimmer ruled the pool – and the record books – at the recent Queensland state swimming championships in Brisbane.
Central Cairns Swimming’s Joel Mundie spent about as much time in the water as he did out of it during the weeklong event.
The 14-year-old competed in 12 races and racked up an astonishing eight gold medals, along with 10 Australian records, as an S7 athlete.
“It felt really good, doing as well as I did down there, especially with all of the training and hard work I put in before it,” he said.
Mundie said his title preparations were hampered after suffering a nasty injury three months out from the championships.
“I had an infection in my little toe and had to have surgery,” he said.
“It put me out of the water for six weeks.”
However, the teen swim star’s determination to compete on the state stage never wavered – not once.
For anyone who knows him, it’s hardly surprising – Mundie’s strength of character has helped him to overcome the odds for years.
When he was just six months old, Mundie was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a rare neurological disorder caused by inflammation across his spinal cord, and has been in a wheelchair since.
He took up swimming at age 11 and hasn’t taken a backward stroke since.
Central Cairns Swimming head coach Herbie Howard said the sky was the limit for the young swimming prodigy.
“Next up he’s got age nationals in April,” said Howard.
“He’ll be wanting to get some more good times down there.
“Long-term, he wants to make an Australian development squad – the 2020 (Paralympics) is a maybe, but we’d definitely be looking at 2024.”
At the titles, Central Cairns Swimming received the Far North Queensland Junior Excellence Club of the Year award.
Howard said it was nice for the club to be rewarded for their efforts and to know they are on the right track.
“We’re really big on being a family club,” he said. “We just want to try and get as many kids into the sport as possible.”
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