The Nangus flyer Cody Wheeler, 11, and his gold medal haul from the NSW state athletics titles in Sydney this month. Picture: Cody’s mum.
Eleven-year-old Nangus pocket rocket Cody Wheeler has cemented his winning reputation with another stunning performance, this time at the 2025 NSW Primary Schools Sport Association Athletic (PSSA) Championships, after winning gold medals in all four of his multi-class events, and in the process rewriting the state’s record books.
Despite battling a rare bone disease, Cody won gold in Senior Boys Discus; gold in Senior Boys 200 Metres, where he smashed the record by more than two seconds; gold in Senior Boys Shot Put where he threw an astounding two metres past the previous record; and gold in Senior Boys 100 Metres sprint at the Sydney Olympic Park event.
Cody Wheeler, 11, with his certificate for setting a new state shot put record at this year’s Primary School Sports Association (PSSA) state athletics championships in Sydney this month. Picture: Supplied.
Mum Peta said the wins were even more remarkable considering who he was up against.
“Cody was competing against 12- and 13-year-old’s and he still won,” she said.
“I had a feeling he would do well because he’s been very consistent with his training; just train, train, train, shot put and discus every day. He hasn’t missed a day,” Peta said.
Gold medalist Cody Wheeler, 11, with the silver and bronze winners on the dais at Sydney Olympic Park. Picture: Supplied.
Cody’s sights are now set on the national School Sport Australia (SSA) Track and Field Championship in November.
Just competing in these events is incredible considering Cody was due to have major surgery earlier this year, but begged his doctors to hold off until after the nationals.
“That was about February this year, and the surgical team were really good and said he could try as long as his knee didn’t dislocate or break in the process,” Peta said.
In the middle of this month’s two-day meet, Cody went to The Children’s Hospital Westmead for a CT scan in preparation for the end-of-year operation.
“He now has a condition called patella maltracking and in simple terms it’s where the kneecap is turned around to where it shouldn’t be, so when he bends, his kneecap goes right round to the other side of his leg,” Peta said.
“And because he has rickets (disease which causes softening of bones) he has to have a femoral osteotomy, where they have to cut the thigh bone and realign it. It’s major surgery, but Cody said he wanted to try and get through the states and national titles first.”
Cody’s paediatric orthopaedic surgeon Dr Justine St. George has been a staunch supporter of his for more than five years, and was the one who gave Cody the green light to have a crack at the state and national titles.
Cody’s paediatric orthopaedic surgeon Dr Justine St. George has been a big supporter for more than five years. Picture: Cody’s mum.
When Cody won his first two of four events, Peta emailed Dr St. George, who quickly replied, ‘That is wonderful. What a champion.’
Back in Wagga, Cody’s long-time cheer squad Country Hope did a social media shout-out.
“We are so proud of Country Hope kid, Cody,” the charity wrote.
“Over the years this talented and ever determined 11-year-old has faced countless challenges including Dent’s disease, rickets, short stature, lung disease, and kidney problems. He’s undergone multiple surgeries on the bones in his legs and receives IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin) transfusions every four weeks in Sydney to strengthen his immune system.
“Cody’s grit, courage and determination inspires us all. Congratulations buddy.”
Having the support of the charity and his medical team for this major school event has been a huge comfort to Cody, who is hoping for glory at next month’s sporting meet.
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At the completion of the November nationals, Cody will travel to Sydney for the major surgery that will leave him unable to walk or weight-bear for three months, and may take up to 12 months to heal. His recovery is hampered by his health conditions, notably rickets, and his rare kidney condition, Dent’s disease, which affects 250 families in the world. The limited knowledge in treatment means doctors are left to extrapolate a way forward in his medical care.
The national School Sport Australia (SSA) 12 and Under Track and Field Championship will be held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra on 27 to 30 November, and Cody Wheeler is hoping to do Nangus Public School and the Riverina proud.
“I will try to beat my record,” Cody said.
When asked how he thought he would go, Cody had one word to say.
“Good.”
