Nangus Primary School champion Cody Wheeler with his five gold and one silver medal and four ribbons from the national School Sport Australia Track and Field Championship held at the AIS in Canberra at the weekend. Photo: Cody’s mum Peta.
Cody Wheeler has once again rewritten the record books in his final year at Nangus Public School as their first ever national athletics champion, after winning five gold and one silver medal at the School Sport Australia Track and Field Championship.
Held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 November, the event featured students aged 10-12 years from the Australian Capital Territory, NSW, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria.
Nangus Public School – which has just 10 students – didn’t want to miss witnessing Cody making history. So every pupil and teacher hopped onto a bus borrowed from Gundagai High School and drove over to cheer him on. The school principal Anneliese Streckfuss and support staff dressed up in orange school sport colours, along with retired Nangus Public School principal Bronwyn Annetts, who has supported Cody from the beginning.
They only needed one bus as Nangus Public School is one of the smallest in the state with just 10 students, with Cody and his twin sister Bree making up 20 per cent of enrolments.
All of Nangus Public School’s students, their teachers and staff made the trip to Canberra to watch Year 6 student Cody Wheeler become a national champion. Photo: Cody’s mum Peta.
“His determination, resilience, and love for sport continue to inspire our entire school community,” Nangus Public School wrote in a statement.
“The trip not only celebrated Cody’s remarkable achievements but also strengthened school spirit, highlighted the value of perseverance, and reinforced the positive influence Cody has had on his peers during his time at Nangus Public School.
“As he prepares for high school, he leaves behind a legacy of resilience, determination and above all a love of sport.”
Having Cody’s school community step up in such a way gave Cody extra incentive, and his mum a sense of overwhelming gratitude to see her son so supported.
Cody Wheeler at the podium with his three teammates after winning gold in the 4 x 100 combined relay at the national School Sport Australia Track and Field Championship held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. Photo: Supplied.
“They even had face placards with Cody’s face on it, as well as banners and all that kind of stuff. It was awesome,” Cody’s mum Peta said.
For Cody, 11, it was his last chance to compete as a primary school student and he absolutely blitzed the competition, winning five gold and one silver in the multi-class competition where he was up against older students.
Cody won gold in discus, gold in shot put where he broke the record, gold in the 100 metre sprint and 200 metres where he broke both records, and gold in the 4 x 100 metre combined medley relay.
“Cody had three other NSW teammates in the relay; there were two able-bodied and two multi-class in that race and that’s why they call it combined,” said Cody’s mum Peta.
Cody Wheeler “with my mates” Samuel, Hudson and William, holding up their silver medals for the 4 x 100 metre multi class relay. Photo: Supplied.
Surprisingly though, Cody said his greatest achievement at the event was winning the silver medal, because he won it with his mates Samuel, Hudson and William as he didn’t want them to miss out on a podium finish.
“Winning silver was the best because I was with my mates and I got to stand with them on the podium,” Cody said.
Cody Wheeler congratulated by Australian Paralympian Michael Roeger and Australian Athletics and Triathlon Paralympian Sam Harding. Photo: Supplied.
Cody prefers action over talking, but the experience of having his school support him, being with his mates and getting to stand on the podium, were enough for him to express his delight in carefully chosen words.
“It was full Steph Curry,” Cody said.
(If you’re not up with kids’ vernacular, this means “it was the greatest,” in reference to NBA star point guard, Wardell Stephen Curry II, better known as Steph Curry, who Cody thinks is the greatest basketball player around.)
The outstanding results matched with his school community support is exactly what Cody needs as he now prepares for major surgery before Christmas to cut his thigh bone and realign it. Hampering his chances at success are his many health issues, including Dent’s disease, rickets, short stature, lung disease, and kidney problems.
Cody’s mum Peta said while she was nervous, if anyone could overcome the odds, it was Cody.
“No one has achieved to the standard that Cody has from state to national in athletics at Nangus Public School, but he’s such a champion. We are bursting with pride,” Peta said.
“The end of this week will be the Riverina Blue Awards, an annual awards ceremony that recognises students in the Riverina for sporting excellence. Cody has to be there at lunchtime. We are thrilled for him.”
