On the 2nd of March 2024, at the age of 15, Anje Bezuidenhout broke the Gauteng High Jump Record of 1.70m (U/17) by jumping 1.74m, making her qualify for the SA’s. Days later, on the 7th of March 2024, her life would change drastically when she arrived home from school and all of a sudden could not walk at all – paralysed from the waist down.

After being admitted to the hospital and going through various tests, she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) – a rare neurological disorder where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nervous system, causing muscle weakness and tingling. This weakness can progress to paralysis, particularly in the legs, arms, and face. 

While GBS can be a serious condition, most people make a full recovery. However, the recovery process can be lengthy and challenging, sometimes lasting for months or even years.