Athletes coaching athletes

Stories of resilience

Too many athletes struggle on the journey towards a comeback without the advantage of speaking with someone who has been through it before. Here, athletes from across the globe share their story and advice for a smoother recovery.

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ACL · VolleyballDiemend RichardsonFrom ACL tear ➔ Becoming an online health & fitness coachACL · RunningBrenda LeighFrom 4 ACL tears ➔ Running the Boston MarathonACL · KarateElisa AuFrom ACL tear ➔ USA national championACL · GymnasticsNatalie KoskoFrom ACL tear ➔ Team USA Olympic dreamsACL · FootballCameron BrosnihanFrom ACL tear ➔ Eastern football championships at age 9ACL · HockeyGemma BrownFrom 2 ACL tears ➔ Winning first place in the Super Sprint TriathlonPro · OlympianMeikayla MooreBorn in New Zealand, 23-year old Olympian, Meikayla Moore, is a professional footballer (soccer player) overseas in Germany for Flyer Alarm Frauen Bundesliga. She…ACL · BasketballIssiah EvansFrom MCL tear ➔ National football championships at age 10MCL · FootballTravis KingFrom MCL tear ➔ Winning ECAC Division III football championshipsACL · BasketballMartin KrampeljMartin Krampelj is an NCAA college basketball forward at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Despite 3 devastating ACL tears, Krampelj refuses to give up…ACL · SurfingShantalShantal is a Spanish surfer who left her hometown in the Canary Islands and moved to Bali five years ago. She has always been…ACL · DanceKristina KorbsKristina Korbs (aka KORR-A) is a music artist and entrepreneur who has always lived a very active life. She is also a performer, model…ACL · MMAAlex BallouAlex Ballou’s biggest dream was always to become a professional MMA fighter, although she felt that it took a long time for it to…Pro · CFLJ-S RoyOffensive lineman, Jean-Simon Roy (also known as J-S Roy), first started playing football at the age of 12 on his highschool team at Séminaire…ACL · SnowboardingJennifer ChristmanJennifer Christman is a 30-year old female snowboarder and mountain biker hailing from eastern Pennsylvania. By career, she is a physical therapist assistant specializing…ACL · FootballClarece StrudwickClarece Strudwick is a 19-year old athlete who has been playing football since the age of three. She grew up on a farm in…ACL · RugbyLene LykkeLene Lykke is a 27 year-old athlete who lives in Uppsala, Sweden with her partner and their one year old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling…Hip · DanceDeborah OryDeborah Ory is one of the creative geniuses behind the NYC Dance Project, which showcases the wonderful world of dance in NYC through world-renowned…ACL · SkiingElla Taylor-TiptonElla Taylor-Tipton is a 14 year-old skier from England and has been skiing since the age of 3. By the age of 5, was…ACL · SurfingSarah De JaegherSarah De Jaegher discovered her passion for stand-up-paddleboarding after moving on from being a semi-professional Tango dancer. For an active individual like Sarah…Pro · Pro soccerMatt PolandMatt Poland has been a professional soccer player for the past 4 years. Prior to tearing his ACL and meniscus, he played for Sporting…ACL · SoccerKatelyn AguilarKatelyn Aguilar is a 17-year old athlete in junior in high school in the US. She plays soccer and is a center forward for…ACL · VolleyballLulu YanezLulu Yanez is multi-sport athlete and has played varsity softball, basketball, soccer, and track & field. Marilu was an All-CIF selection in 2006, 2007…ACL · GymnasticsJulianna BalsellsJulianna Balsells , 22-years old, spent 10 years as a competitive gymnast before retiring at the age of 15. She was involved in a…Achilles · TrackKaylyn Schultz AppleyardKaylyn was a high jumper on the Track & Field team at Baylor University, where she completed her undergraduate studies, as well as a…ACL · HockeyErik OzollapaErik Ozollapa is a semi-professional ice hockey player born in Latvia, and hockey has brought him around the world. Throughout his hockey career, he…ACL · VolleyballLaura AganLaura Agan is a 23-year old athlete who played NCAA Division 1 volleyball at Northwestern State University, and then continued to play in England…Pro · Pro hockeyAdam MunroNamed one of the top 3 goalies in Erie Otters’ History by The Hockey Writers, Adam Munro is a former Canadian professional ice hockey…ACL · SkiingThea FenwickThea Fenwick is a 17-year old freestyle skier from England and started skiing at the age of 2. Since the age of 12, she…ACLNatalie S.Natalie S is the Founder of the fitness and lifestyle blog, Flexx & The City , based in New York City. She was a…ACL · FootballJanelle RattenburyJanelle Rattenbury is a 23-year old athlete from Tasmania, Australia. She has represented her state in cricket, and plays AFL in the Tasmanian State…ACL · BasketballKendall DuncanKendall Duncan started playing basketball at the age of 5 and fell in love with the game. Throughout her entire life, she had dreamed…ACL · LacrosseCharlotte CampbellCharlotte Campbell is a lacrosse goalkeeper and has been playing since she was around 4th grade. Since the age of 6, she has wanted…ACL · SoccerJordi NewmanJordi Newman was a Division I athlete in college, prior to tearing her ACL four times (an XCLevation record!) and has made a successful…Pro · NBA coachBrittni DonaldsonHow adversity helped Toronto Raptors’ assistant coach, Brittni Donaldson, become a better coachACL · BasketballKindyll WettaKindyll Wetta is a sophomore in high school from Colorado and has played sports her entire life. She enjoys snowboarding and paddle boarding… …ACL · BasketballTalia SchwartzTalia Schwartz is a fitness enthusiast, health nut, and baller from New York City. After tearing her ACL, she consulted the orthopaedic team at…ACL · SkiingKaila PirrieKaila Pirrie is a mountain girl to the fullest. She has a passion for rock climbing, biking, skiing, running, and yoga - and was…ACL · SkiingAbbie VosAbbie Vos is passionate about skiing and running and enjoyed an injury-free life, until she was faced with a devastating ACL tear, followed by…ACL · ClimbingChristine JoyChristine Joy is a Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor, and Yoga Teacher. She tore her ACL stepping out of bed, and is 2 weeks post…ACL · DanceCourtney OdeleinCourtney Odelein is a professional dancer, choreographer and teacher in Toronto. She grew up in a small town of 400 people in the middle…Pro · Principal ballerinaDanielle BrownDanielle Brown is a principal dancer with Florida’s Sarasota Ballet, where she trains Monday through Saturday, 9-5pm. She dedicated her life to becoming a…ACL · SoccerAdrian GonzalezAdrian Gonzalez , 27-years old, has a passion for soccer and bodybuilding. In November 2017, he tore his ACL playing soccer and is now…ACLMelissa ChanMelissa Chan is a finance professional who also loves Muay Thai. Before tearing her ACL, she competed as an amateur. Her knee has now…ACL · CheerKarly MerauKarly Merau is a 19-year old professional performer and has been a cheerleader and dancer since the age of 8. She is one year…ACL · SoccerJ.P. HerreraJ.P. Herrera is currently a pilot. Before getting into aviation, he spent 5 years as an army lientenant. He has been playing soccer since…ACL · FootballJ RoundtreeJ Roundtree is a United States Army Veteran who loves sports (basketball, football, and baseball) and making YouTube videos. He loves to help people…ACL · GymnasticsHana BenetkovaHana Benetkova is a 27 year old physiotherapist from Central Europe who loves gymnastics, nature, laughter, and beer. She has made a full comeback…Pro · Pro dancerOnton SeeBorn and raised in Toronto, Onton trained in martial arts since the age of eight, and started dancing at the age of 19. In…ACLDonna McNuttDonna McNutt is a mom, teacher and someone who loves being active. Her two main sports are mountain biking and road biking. Being an…ACL · LacrosseCamille StaffordCamille Stafford was a competitive gymnast for 10 years, and played soccer since she was able to walk, but ultimately chose to pursue lacrosse…ACLJessica FrederickJessica Frederick is a fitness enthusiast, wife, and dog Mom who enjoys helping women find their groove in a balanced healthy lifestyle. As an…ACL · SoccerCamille LyuCamille Lyu is a high school athlete with a passion for volleyball and soccer. She is known for her determination and dedication to achieve…ACLKylie Thibodeau-HarveyKylie Thibodeau-Harvey is a 26 year old, competitive athlete and online entrepreneur. Her main focus is teaching people to think differently to improve the…ACL · FootballAmy BakerAmy Baker is tore her ACL 4 times playing soccer, and has had ACL reconstructions each time. She has been playing soccer since the…Pro · BallerinaCharlotte LanningCharlotte Lanning started her ballet training at the age of 10 at the Washington School of Ballet under the direction of Mary Day and…ACL · Martial artsTasha BaberTasha Baber is a 33-year old power-lifter who loves exercise and has lost over 80 lbs in the past two years. She does Brazilian…ACL · VolleyballAnnette GrandolfoAnnette Grandolfo is 36 years old and has been playing volleyball since middle school, and has completed Tough Mudder. She currently works in mental…ACL · GymnasticsOlivia HicksOlivia Hicks is a 19 year old gymnast who started at the age of 6, and absolutely loves it. She is currently studying exercise…ACL · FootballHolly AistonHolly Aiston is a 21 year old Exercise physiology student, and hopes to one day open her own clinic and help others with knee…ACLAndy RoweAndy Rowe is a 39-year old Assistant Chief of a firefighter department. He is also a private pilot and was previously in the army.…ACL · FootballBen HargraveBen Hargrave is a lift engineer, who has always been into sports, especially football. He tore his ACL during a football match, but has…ACL · DanceCassie BrownCassie Brown is a 19 year old professional dancer and actress. She graduated with an Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts and started working as…ACL · BasketballDjonas CastilloDjonas Castillo fell in love with the game of basketball after being inspired by Michael Jordan and been playing since the age of 10.…ACL · Obstacle racingLindsay PartenioThe journey of a Ninja Warrior competitorACLJoanna MillerMotocross racer refuses to give up after four ACL tearsConcussionMelissa UrbanCEO of Whole30 shares her journey post-concussionACL · BodybuildingBrianna Jeanette DiazBreaking down to build upACL · DanceMichelle MacrohonHip hop dancer shares her journey and 3 key ways it has changed her perspectiveACL · SkiingKit McGinleyA clearer mind: the daughter of an orthopedic surgeon shares her storyACL · Obstacle racingAmanda JenkinsLessons learned along the way: OCR athleteACLAlexandrea Cervantes“As a former collegiate athlete, fitness professional, and current Team USA Certified Trainer, I have had my fair share of injuries. The last thing…ACL · TrackKinta WendtMom-thlete: an overly active, outgoing, positive mom who loves the gymACL · SoccerCicily PorterSoccer player invited to join international team after ACL tearACL · SoccerKerry MorrisHow a bumblebee led to a torn ACLSoccerStephie MeyerThe emotional rollercoaster through 5 knee surgeriesACLChelsea CornishMotivated to become a better coach + playerACL · NetballJane VeamatahauHolding on to dreams of going proACL · SnowboardingWilliam Z.Inspiration through philosophyACL · DanceKarly MerauOpportunity amidst adversityAchilles · TrackStephen GouldOvercoming obstacles as a master's athleteACL · DanceCassie BrownHow the ACL injury made me a better dancer / dance teacherACLRehab as a sport in itselfSo we tore our ACL. We're devastated to find out that we'll be out of sports for about a year. As an athlete, our…