Toni Mould: 'It is always great to be crowned as double SA champion'

JOHANNESBURG – Paralympic cyclist Toni Mould starts her year on a great note securing two gold medals at the South African Road, Individual Time Trial, and Criterium Championships.

Eyewitness News caught up with the 2022 Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability for the Cape Winelands Region.  

“It is always great to be crowned as double SA champion. This year at the champs my focus wasn’t as much on times but on focusing on the process that I am busy with. In December we mounted splints on my tricycle, so my body is still getting used to them and how it feels with the splints.”

The T1 cyclist said her personal goal for the Champs was to get two solid races under her belt and see how her body reacted when she pushed hard with the splints.

“I left satisfied with my two races, happy with my progress, and the things we got right. Obviously, there are still things that we need to work on and fix but my main target is the two UCI Road World Cups in April and May so my team and I still have time.”

T1 is a para-cycling classification. It is for athletes with severe locomotive dysfunctions, and insufficient balance to use a regular bicycle.

“For most of my career I have been supported by mostly family and friends. I have also received a sports grant from the Challenged Athlete Foundation in the USA. But recently things are changing. Maties Gym is supporting me as one of their athletes for this year. I have been gyming there for a few years now,” said Mould.

The para-cyclist was one of the 34 athletes chosen to represent South Africa at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics. She was one of three para-cyclists and the only female cyclist to represent South Africa at the Paralympic Games.

“Two of their fitness instructors Karen and Michaela Nellemann are two of my main trainers and also have travelled with me to recent international and national competitions as my carers and assistants. In the last 6 months I have also started working with a local physio, Renita Fehrsen-du Toit who is helping me tremendously and also went to SA champs with me this year.”

The athlete has cerebral palsy - which was caused by complications during her birth. This affects her balance, speech, and motor skills. She, therefore, uses a tricycle to compete in cycling competitions.

“All my competitions to try and qualify are self-funded and I don’t have big sponsors behind me funding my expenses. Due to my disability I also need to take one or two assistants with me to help me when I travel and that increases the cost of traveling.”

Para-cyclists in South Africa have been self-funded over the years building up to the Game; they have to pay their way to competitions, find their own coaches and meet all their other sporting needs by paying out of their own pocket or through fund-raising campaigns.

“To raise funds I am doing the 42km Cape Town Cycle Tour on the 10th March. I am asking people to sponsor me per kilometre or per cut off point, or sponsor my or one of my trainer’s entry fee (who are riding to support me on the road). Alternatively, people can give a general donation towards the items listed on my Backabuddy page. People can contact me on FB or Instagram or go to my Backabuddy site,” said Mould.

The athlete has won trophies and medals for cycling during the UCI World Cup in 2016.

She also bagged a silver medal in 2017 at the World Championships and was named the Cape Winelands Sportswomen of the Year with a Disability in 2018.

“Trust the process and focus on your ‘race’. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the goal of Paris and measure ourselves against whether we make it or not, or against the expectations of others. Hopefully, athletes aiming for Paris are surrounded by a great team of family, friends, coaches, and team mates that can support, encourage, and catch us when we fall.”