Gymnast born with a missing body part defies all odds to compete in the Commonwealth Games after doctors told him he will ‘never excel’ at upper body strength sports
- Australian gymnast Clay Stephens, 25, born with Poland Syndrome
- The South Australian has only one pectoral muscle and is missing the other
- He defied doctors who said he’d never excel at upper body strength sports
- Stephens is now a key member of Australia’s gymnastics Comm Games team
A gymnast has overcome six surgeries, three ACL injuries and a rare birth defect to become one of the faces of Australia’s Commonwealth Games team.
Clay Stephens, 25, was told from a young age he would never be able to compete in a range of upper body-focused sports including tennis, swimming and gymnastics after being diagnosed with Poland Syndrome.
The condition sees children born with missing or underdeveloped muscles on one side of the body – usually in the chest, shoulder, arm or hand. The Aussie only has one pectoral muscle, which significantly impacts his arm strength.
Undaunted by medical experts and his own impediment, Stephens pushed on and participated in every sport he could – before finding his passionate in the gym.
‘We didn’t know until I was three-years-old. I had a cold, my mum and dad took me to the doctor and he mentioned to my parents he’s missing his pec. At the time you have baby fat and it’s not that noticeable,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘We didn’t really know what it was, but as you get older it gets more noticeable and the doctor asks more questions. My parents asked what does it mean and the doctors said he’ll be healthy and fine, he’ll just struggle to do certain things.’
Clay Stephens has overcome a rare condition called Poland Syndrome that sees a child born without a muscle on one side of the body – in his case his pectoral
The Adelaide-born athlete was repeatedly told as a child ‘don’t expect much’ with his athletics after being born with the genetic condition.
He said his parents always pushed him to pursue anything he wanted, playing tennis, soccer and competing in swimming.
‘They said I wouldn’t excel in upper body sports – tennis swimming and gymnastics – which is funny because those were the three sports I was doing at the time,’ Stephens said.
It was gymnastics he fell in love with, and even more surprisingly excelled in, despite missing a muscle critical to its success.
Gymnastics South Australia attended Stephens’ school, luring him in by sending a letter in the mail asking him to trial for the local gym.
‘I went and gave it a crack and loved it. Within six months I was straight into the elite program. Then they would go cut people, but I just kept making the cut. It got down to five of us,’ he said.
Stephens persevered through upper body sports like swimming and gymnastics despite his doctors telling him he’d never excel
‘At the time I was playing soccer at a high level, and I had to make a choice out of soccer and gymnastics. Honestly at the time my pec didn’t come into the equation at all, it was just what did I enjoy more.
‘In hindsight I probably should’ve picked soccer, it would’ve paid me more.’
He then decided to take up an offer for a scholarship with Illinois University in the United States after watching the Australian Institute of Sport slowly drop its funding and positions on offer for gymnasts.
‘The training environment was a lot better. The support maybe wasn’t quite as good in terms of the team around us, but we had a team of 20, doctors, nutritional health, recovery centres.
‘I had to study, which I didn’t really want to do, but it was a free education. A $250,000 education.’
The 25-year-old said he has to be creative when relying on upper body strength as a result of only having one pec
The path to the Commonwealth Games provided further challenges than Poland Syndrome, with Stephens suffering a series of career-threatening injuries.
He has overcome three ACLs, a MCL and meniscus injuries which required six surgeries combined.
The 25-year-old said those hurdles coupled with his birth defect have provided further motivation towards representing his country.
Stephens joins a talented Aussie gymnastics team who have a strong chance to medal.
He recently finished second in the All-Round category at the Australian Championships – and expects to be helping the team chase gold in front of a hostile English crowd.
‘I’m super pumped to see what the atmosphere is like. Whether they’re cheering or booing they’ll be doing me favours,’ Stephens said.
‘It’ll be exciting, we’re not the most loved team in the arena so may as well be the most hated.’
Stephens and the Aussie team will be looking for a Commonwealth Games medal in Birmingham in the opening days of the competition
The Adelaidean said he is constantly contacted by other people suffering from Poland Syndrome and believes his story overcoming the defect will be a legacy lasting longer than any Commonwealth Games success.
‘I’ve been reached out to by way more people than I thought. I initially thought I was the only person in the world who had it, but I’ve been contacted by girls and guys saying thank you for talking about it, asking me questions and for advice,’ Stephens said.
‘It’s nice for me to get those messages and now they know other people have it. Also I’ve torn my ACL three times, had six surgeries. Overcoming that is so important. The thing I want to stress is things can happen to you but it’s how you deal with that and how you move forward. If they are your goals and you’re passionate about that then nothing will stop you.
‘Yes injuries, being diagnosed with disabilities is a road block, but it’s never anything you can’t get through if you’re passionate and your dreams are strong enough.
‘Through the difficult times you’ll learn so much about yourself. The hard times serve as a really useful companion in times of success.’
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