By Kang Hyun-kyung
PYEONGCHANG _ Olympic medalists are lauded for their perseverance to pull together victories after years of toil, hard work and the enormous pressure of representing their countries. Their medals mean much more than their victories and the shiny moments at the podium.
In the Olympics, there is another group of athletes who deserve recognition _ those who made remarkable comebacks from career-threatening injuries.
The U.S. women’s alpine speed skiing team’s news conference at the Main Press Center in the rustic eastern county of PyeongChang on Thursday showcased two inspiring athletes _ Alice McKennis and Laurenne Ross _ and how they were able to overcome severe injuries and rejoin the team for the Olympics.
Before the Games, Ross and McKennis suffered injuries while practicing or competing in the World Cup that were so severe few expected they would be able to come back to compete in the Olympics again. But they made it by defeating lingering fears stemming from worries and the unknown that otherwise could have cut their careers short.
“If you have a severe injury, it is going to change you a little as a person,” Ross said. “But it brings out a lot of inner strength maybe you never knew you had. I am for sure a stronger person from that.”
The 2016-17 season was her most prolific but at the same time a traumatic one for the alpine speed racer. Ross had World Cup top 10 finishes seven times and was regarded as the second-most accomplished American skier behind Lindsey Vonn.
That season, Ross suffered a devastating injury. She tore the ACL and meniscus in her right knee and underwent surgery. As with other athletes, injuries are part for the course, but this one was so severe it could have ended Ross’ career. In 2006, she recovered from a fractured pelvis. Her left ACL was torn in 2008 and she has suffered multiple shoulder dislocations and broken fingers.
But the injuries have not stopped the two-time Olympian from coming back to compete in the Games. Ross said the trying times helped her make introspections and she became a stronger person.
“I did spend a little more time with my family over the years but I have become stronger as a person,” she said. “(I) got to know myself better, although injuries can be extremely difficult emotionally, physically and obviously with pain.”
Chip White, head coach of the U.S. women’s alpine speed team, said Ross is an example of someone who has made a remarkable recovery from career-threatening injuries.
Ross said improvement is something athletes can gain while recovering from injuries.
She mentioned teammate McKennis as an example. “I have seen Alice come back from her injuries. She is a much better skier. Her skiing now is technically incredible.”
Speed skier McKennis, another two-time U.S. Olympian, had six surgeries and two knee injuries before she won the ticket to participate in PyeongChang. In 2011, the tibia plateau of her left leg was broken. However, she returned to the World Cup in 2013 after recovering.
McKennis had her first World Cup victory in downhill in January 2013. But the joyous moment did not last long.
She suffered another severe injury weeks later when she crashed during practice in Germany and fractured the tibial plateau in her other knee. This time, the injury was more severe than the one in her left leg. Her tibia was shattered in 30 pieces.
“Since (the 2010 Vancouver Olympics), a lot has happened to me,” McKennis said. Vancouver was her Olympic debut. She has undergone multiple surgeries for injuries after the Olympics.
Facing trying times, McKennis recalled she was devastated.
“There were a lot of moments where I thought this was the end of my career and I was going to be unable to have opportunities again to compete in the Olympics,” she said.
McKennis said she put in a lot of hard work and perseverance to push through some of the difficulties and injuries physically, mentally and emotionally and kept fighting along the way. “But I’m really proud and excited to be here to represent my country,” she said.
Five U.S. alpine skiers joined the press conference held a day before the Opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympics. The other three were Stacey Cook, Breezy Johnson and Alice Merryweather.