“Every twist and turn, it was obstacles, right? And so for me, all I did was thrive. I learned from those. I realized, I can either take it two ways. I can let it overpower me and I crumble, or I freaking thrive and I rise. So that's what I did—I took that road.”

 

When high jumper Priscilla Loomis caught COVID-19 in January 2021, she—and the team doctor—assumed she’d be fine in a few days. But instead, the illness kicked off what she calls “the scariest time of my entire life.”

 

A week later, she still felt dizzy and weak—and, most concerning to the elite athlete, coping with stabbing chest pain. All she wanted was to get back to training, so she could make her second Olympic team. But her cardiologists wouldn’t clear her, saying her heart was inflamed.

 

Priscilla’s roller coaster ride didn’t end there, nor in Tokyo; she shares the whole dramatic tale on this week’s episode (tune in to hear what happens!). But through it all, and now that she’s retired from track and field, her Olympic mindset has allowed her to turn obstacles into opportunities, and never stop telling her own story.

 

Resources/links:

• Priscilla’s website, Instagram, and Facebook page

• The National Geographic podcast about her COVID experience

 

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

• Join The Injured Athletes Club Facebook group, for support and camaraderie

• Like The Injured Athletes Club Podcast Facebook page, for the latest episodes

• 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.