I tried everything.
Yet, nothing seemed to be working.
The pain persisted.
This was in October of last year. My junior year.
As athletes, we deal with injuries all the time, so I was just hoping the pain would eventually go away.
After I went to the doctor, I heard everything from fractures in my legs to nothing was wrong. At that point, the frustration mounted because I knew there was something that wasn’t right, and no one seemed to have any answers on how to fix it.
Once I got a second opinion, it was discovered that I had a labrum tear in my hip that I swam through during my junior season.
While there was a sense of relief in finally knowing what was wrong and how to recover from the injury, it came at a cost.
My junior season proved to be the most demanding period in my entire life, and due to the mental and physical strain caused by that injury, I lost my passion for swimming.
And after everything I went through, candidly, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever regain the love I had for the sport.
Among the best
While I had a successful athletic career in high school, I sometimes felt like I wasn’t really a part of the team.
In all honesty, I struggled a bit because I was so committed and driven to be a DI athlete.
Once I committed to Louisville, my hard work and dedication had paid off, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous heading into my freshman year.
This is the ACC, and I’m competing against some of the best swimmers in the entire country.
It was terrifying to think about at times.
Fortunately, I was surrounded by a team at Louisville that was super supportive and understood and empathized with me as I made the transition to college sports.
Like any student-athlete, I faced plenty of challenges in my first two years at Louisville, but I would certainly say there were more ups than downs.
After my sophomore season, I decided not to pursue a professional career in swimming post-college, so I was eager to give it my all the next two years and compete to the best of my ability.
But I wasn’t fully prepared for the storm in my junior season that was about to turn my life upside down.
Pain and heartache
Going into the season, we had a change to our coaching staff, and I was excited about the new direction our team was heading in.
We were training harder than ever before, which I enjoyed, but I remember a particular morning practice where I was in so much pain that I couldn’t finish.
But hey, it’s normal to feel pain every once in a while, right?
That was my mindset, at least.
So, I was determined to finish the season.
But, it became increasingly difficult. There were days when I would cry in practice, struggling to keep going.
Yet, I didn’t want anyone to know just how much pain I was in.
To make matters worse, I had to take it easy in practice due to the pain, which didn’t fulfill me in the least.
I felt I wasn’t working hard enough because I could barely make it through practices, and that took a mental toll on the high standards I hold myself to.
After conference championships, that’s when I got my diagnosis and learned about requiring surgery for my labrum tear.
While I was naturally scared about the surgery and the recovery process, I looked forward to taking a break from the pool and clearing my head.
And I was hoping, more than anything, this surgery would give me a fresh start heading into my senior year.
Once I committed to Louisville, my hard work and dedication had paid off, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous heading into my freshman year. This is the ACC, and I'm competing against some of the best swimmers in the entire country. It was terrifying to think about at times. Fortunately, I was surrounded by a team at Louisville that was super supportive and understood and empathized with me as I made the transition to college sports.
The little things
There’s an old saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I can say without question that held true for how I felt about swimming as I went through my surgery and recovery process.
I missed the sport greatly; I missed the practices and seeing all my teammates on a daily basis.
It’s little things like that you take for granted, you know?
I wasn’t able to walk for five weeks, so just being able to do that has made me super grateful.
Throughout this process, I’ve learned to appreciate the small victories and to take each day as it comes.
For the sake of my mental health, I documented each day on social media until I was able to walk without crutches. Just reflecting on the day and the progress I was making sounds simple, but I think it also helped a bunch of people who were going through something similar and helped normalize everything for them.
It was nice to have a community of people who were supporting me – not just my teammates and friends at Louisville – and could relate to my struggles.
It was amazing to experience.
A setback for a comeback
I have a new coach this year for my senior season, and he’s undoubtedly the best coach I’ve ever worked with.
Even though it’s only been a couple of months, his support and generosity for my recovery process and what I’m going through has been incredible.
As I prepare to graduate and move on to the next chapter of my life soon, he recently asked me a question that demonstrates just how thoughtful and caring he is.
“What can I do to make sure you leave the sport happy and knowing that you gave it your all?”
Truthfully, the answer to that question is still a work in progress, but I’ve learned to be present in the moment and cherish every opportunity I have to swim.
I don’t dwell on the future or get caught up in what’s next.
Instead, I focus on the joy of going to practice every day now, on the camaraderie with my teammates, and the small victories in my day-to-day life.
Having surgery was a setback, no doubt. But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
It allowed me to rediscover my passion for swimming and to appreciate the sport on a deeper level. And when I look back on my swimming career, I don’t regret a single moment.
I’m grateful for the journey, the ups and downs, and the lessons they’ve taught me.
I’m ready to dive into my senior year with a renewed spirit and a heart full of gratitude.
I hope that my experiences can help other athletes facing similar challenges.
Remember, setbacks are just detours on the road to success, and sometimes, they lead to the greatest comebacks.
More Stories
Powered by
