"It was one of those that was like, injury leading to injury, and it was strange for me because in my over 20 years as an elite level athlete, I've never had really bad injuries. I've always been one—even though I used to train really hard—I was resilient. I would get niggles and things like that, but I never dealt with anything this big and had it set me back this much. So it really challenged me. I'd say, not just physically, but really on the mental side as well.”

 

After the 2018 Commonwealth Games—where she took home a bronze medal and broke multiple South African records—weightlifter Mona de Lacey Pretorius felt like nothing could stop her forward momentum. Her longtime dream, to compete at the Olympics, felt destined to become a reality.

 

But the road leading up to the Games was far more winding than she could have ever expected, including injuries, a pandemic, and travel challenges and restrictions that tested her limits more than any barbell ever had.

 

Mona talks us through it all on this week’s episode, including the dramatic conclusion—listen to hear more. She also explains why, though she’s a mental coach herself, she reached out to a sport psychologist for support. And, she tells us how her experiences have fueled every aspect of her career and the rest of her life (since this recording, she’s become a new mom!).

 

Resources/links:

• Mona’s weightlifting website, mental coaching website, Instagram, and Twitter

• Her YouTube channel—and the video discussed in the episode, about her Olympic journey

 

Thank you so much to our sponsors for season 6: 

• Fluid Running, which has revolutionized fitness by bringing running to the deep water

• IceeNOW.com, which provides innovative injury prevention and recovery solutions for athletes

• 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.

 

You can subscribe to The Injured Athletes Club on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts, and if you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or a review in Apple podcasts. That helps other injured athletes find the show.

 

To access more resources for injured athletes:

• Buy Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries —now available as an audiobook!

• Access webinar videos, injury sources, and more great resources for injured athletes while supporting our work

• Join The Injured Athletes Club mailing list, for news and updates

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• Email us at [email protected] with questions, guest suggestions, or other feedback

 

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.