Benonian Tyron Fox Meadon, a Rynfield resident, was told four years ago he would never play sport or compete in any sport again due to several injuries he incurred after a motorbike accident.
“In 2017, I was riding a bike and was involved in a head-on collision with a Mercedes-Benz,” he explained.
“My helmet flew off and I made head on contact with the vehicle, rolled off and my head hit the floor, which lead to several fractures to the skull, bleeding on the brain and being permanently deaf in my right ear. I was told I would be unable to do any sport, such as soccer or wrestling, which I was practising before the accident.
“Due to the medication I was on I gained a lot of weight, putting me into a depressive state. It triggered my anger as well, so for the next three years, I attended the gym, ate properly and performed certain head injury treatment exercises.
“I then went back to the doctor who then to my surprise gave me clearance for sports again.”
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Meadon said his most memorable moment will always remain his first wrestling match.
“I was ready in 2017 for my first wrestling match. I was well trained and ready for the show and then the following week the accident happened,” he said.
“I share this memorable moment with the day I walked into the centre three years later and said I’m here for training again.”
Born in Benoni in 1996, Meadon grew up on a farm with his family.
“I was extremely close to my grandfather. He died when I was young and my dad followed soon after, so I am extremely close to my mom. She is my hero, as she has sacrificed so much for me and my siblings.”
This former Benoni High School learner loves to play indoor soccer, which he said is now his favourite sport.
“I went through quite the depressing experience last year after being dumped by my fiancée of five and a half years and losing my job the day after,” he explained.
“My brother came to me, threw a shirt and shorts at me and said let’s go. We went to play indoor soccer together, resulting in us creating the team we have today.”
Meadon believes in never giving up and advised others that no matter what anyone else says, family is important and will always be the first ones there for you.
“For any youngsters who feel like giving up or that they can’t do something, you can never give up. When you fall you have to pick yourself up, brush yourself off and move on,” he said.
“For those youngsters who are told you can’t do something, remember you must never accept a ‘no’ from someone who doesn’t have the authority or power to give you a ‘yes’. What others think doesn’t matter, it’s all about what you put in and take out at the end of the day.”
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Meadon feels without his family, he wouldn’t be where he is today.
“Thank you to my family who has been by my side my whole life, especially my mom, who is my role model,” he said.
“Where I am to this day, job-wise, relationship-wise and health wise is all thanks to my family.
“The word family is underrated. My family is not the people I see at home every day, my family include the people who comfort, appreciate, encourage and care for me.
“I would also like to give a special thank you to Century 21 East Rand who looked at a group of young boys and decided to give them a chance to shine in a sport they love and are destined to play.”
