Jordaan’s inspirational Paralympic journey is an example of faith and support

Elanza Jordaan of Team South Africa takes part in a Boccia training session ahead of Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at South Paris Arena 1 on August 27, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)

By Gary Lemke in Paris

29 Aug 2024

Jordaan makes her Paralympic debut on Thursday in boccia with her mom Sandre as her ramp operator, while Team SA also has Karabo Morapedi and his ramp operator Vincent Ramochela in action over the next few days.

The Paralympic logo is painted on Elanza Jordaan’s left ring finger nail, and on her left wrist is a black band with an inscription in capital letters: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. On her right ring finger nail the South African flag is painted. She places that right hand on the control stick of her wheelchair.

Except, it’s no ordinary wheelchair, the likes of which are a common sight as about 4,400 Paralympians go about their daily life in the athletes’ village.

Jordaan’s power wheelchair, which she was upgraded to at the age of 10, is the SUV of wheelchairs. It was 15 years ago that her parents dug deep into their pockets and introduced her to the transport that she now drives with confidence.

“It took a lot of practice to get used to – I would bump into a lot of things!”

Not any more. I start to unlatch the double doors to the interview room, but I’ve only got one open by the time she has driven through it, with about 5cm to spare on either side.

“I’ve upgraded from a learners licence.” The humour shines through despite the restriction of distorted speech.

That control stick on her wheelchair is not dissimilar to what you’d find on an Xbox or PlayStation.

“I can go forwards, backwards, left and right,” she says. She does that all with her right hand.

Debut

Jordaan makes her Paralympic debut on Thursday in boccia (pronounced bot-cha) with her mom Sandre as her ramp operator, while Team SA also has Karabo Morapedi and his ramp operator Vincent Ramochela in action over the next few days.

There’s no sugar-coated way of saying this: she and Morapedi are the two most compromised para-athletes representing Team SA at these Games. But, they also have to be two of the most inspirational.

Jordaan’s mom, Sandre, takes up the story: “Elanza has an identical twin sister, Sumarie. They were dangerously premature and born at 25 weeks. Elanza had less blood flow when born, and consequently she is a spastic quadriplegic with cerebal palsy. She weighed 700g at birth.” In other words, less than a litre of water, and just a bit more than a tub of margarine.

Jordaan is a product of Paarl School in Brackenfell, Cape Town, and she freely admits that she “wouldn’t be here” if it wasn’t for the support of her family and friends.

Elanza Jordaan takes part in a boccia training session before the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at South Paris Arena 1 on 27 August 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo: Tullio M Puglia / Getty Images)

That statement might apply to life itself, let alone her sporting career. The fact that she survived is a small miracle. The fact she is at the Paralympics is probably best described by a word that doesn’t exist – a higher form of a miracle.

“I’ve had a lot of help,” she says. Her mom briefly looks down, as if in silent prayer and reflection. It’s only for a second or two, but it’s powerful.

In terms of her daily functions Jordaan relies on her mom, in particular, to care for her needs. “Everything except eating, which she can do on her own,” Sandre says. Jordaan, who turned 25 last month, chips in.

“And get around in my wheelchair. It has given me so much independence.” That wheelchair came at just the right time in her childhood development.

Jordaan and Morapedi are here to play boccia. To loosely explain what the sport is, it’s related to bowls. In her and Morapedi’s individual class (BC3) there are two players, each of whom has six balls.

The game starts when one of them instructs a ramp operator to send a jack down a ramp. Each player then sends down one ball and the person furthest away will keep playing until they get closest to the jack. Each player has six minutes to play all their balls.

“It’s very technical and very stressful with the time limit,” says Jordaan. Sandre will sit in front of her, facing her, which means she has her back to the field of play. Jordaan then gives the instructions on what she wants.

Elanza Jordaan of Team South Africa will make her Olympic debut on Thursday, 29 August 2024. (Photo: Tullio M Puglia / Getty Images)

“I am not allowed to talk apart from her instructing me what to do with the ball, and I’m not allowed to turn and see what has happened to the ball. But often the look on Jordaan’s face gives it away.

“The balls are different in compounds from super soft to super hard, and she tells me which to use depending on her strategy and intent. She also instructs me when to change the delivery angle of the ramp and how high up to place the ball on it. It’s high pressure.”

Her description is that “mom’s like a robot!”

Up against it

Jordaan’s opening match on Thursday is against one of the medal favourites, Kei Yuen Ho of Hong Kong. However, the South African knows that while she’s up against it, she deserves to be called a Paralympian. Both she and Morapedi became African champions to qualify for Paris.

“When I heard I was selected I was crying all the time,” she says. “I can’t explain the feeling, it was overwhelming. To represent my country is amazing. I still have to put my earrings in for the competition – they are in the South African flag’s colours as well.”

Jordaan was introduced to boccia, which is represented by about 75 countries at these Paralympics, nine years ago (2015).

“My physiotherapist Anthea at Paarl School suggested I try it to get involved in sport. I enjoyed it and became quite good at it.”

There is a well-tested African adage that it takes a village to raise a child, and in many aspects that could apply to Jordaan.

“I wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere by myself. My family and support team, which includes my boccia coach Reinet Barnard and my school, have been with me all along.

It’s not an easy sport and I’m now so proud. I’ve come a long way to be here.

“It’s not an easy sport and I’m now so proud. I’ve come a long way to be here. I practise for three to four hours a day, five days a week. I also have a job as class assistant to Grade 1’s at Paarl School and my working hours are 8am to 3pm.

“My sister is now married, but we have a strong family and we are all very close. We’re always there for each other and we are all stronger for what life has dealt us.”

The reality – and it applies to the 22-year-old Morapedi as well – is that when the word “inspirational” is trotted out in conversation, it isn’t strong enough to explain what these two have achieved. “Miracles” is probably a better word, because that’s what they are.

They feel right at home in the Paralympic village and certainly don’t look out of place. Jordaan still has quite a bit to do on this Wednesday. It’s nearing 10am and she needs to make her way down in the lifts and to the dining hall. Then it’s back to prepare for the opening ceremony, which she wants to be at to represent her country.

There’s also something else. Her fingernails are painted with the Paralympic logo and South African flag, but there’s unfinished business. She needs mom to put on her earrings for her, which are in the colours of the country’s flag as well.

It’s something that Sandre will do with a chest bursting with pride and no doubt a tear forming in her own eye.

“I’m so proud of what she has achieved,” says mom.

It’s time for me to go. Someone is chopping onions down the corridor. DM

Gary Lemke is in Paris as part of Team SA

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Up against it