[Having type 1 diabetes] comes with a lot of struggles, but I try to kind of embrace those struggles and learn from them and they help me grow. Having that perspective with type 1 helped me with my ACL recovery. Because I could say, ‘Alright, this is going to be one of the hardest times in my life, but in the long run, I will be stronger because of it.”
When the 2020 Olympics were first postponed, long jumper Kate Hall looked on the bright side—she’d have more time to train and prepare for the Olympic Trials, which would qualify her for the Games. But a week before her first competition in 2021, she was doing a box jump in the gym and landed wrong. Eventually, she’d learn that she tore her ACL and needed surgery.
The setback was devastating, but as Kate explains in this week’s episode, she’s used to overcoming obstacles—she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 10, not long after she first began participating in track and field. The ups and downs of managing her condition prepared her well for the long process of recovering after ACL surgery.
Her resilience has been incredible—even when, not long after we recorded this episode, she found out she’d torn her meniscus and would need another surgery to remove it. But she’s already back to jogging and skipping, and knows she’ll be an even better athlete for it. “Sometimes when you’re at your worst… that’s where you find your greatest strength,” she says.
Resources/links:
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Her DiaStrong Foundation, which aims to help people with diabetes achieve their goals
Thank you so much to our sponsors for season 6:
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Fluid Running, which has revolutionized fitness by bringing running to the deep water
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IceeNOW.com, which provides innovative injury prevention and recovery solutions for athletes
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ADAM Rehabilitation, creators of the ADAM Brace System, the most stable exercise system built to save the health of your shoulders
Learn more and access exclusive discount codes for their products at buymeacoffee.com/rebound or by joining The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group.
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To access more resources for injured athletes:
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DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.