Open the Vault: Season-Ending Injury
2/15/2018 2:12:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics, Features
Open the Vault is an inside look at the Michigan women's gymnastics team as told through the voice of its student-athletes. This week junior communication major Olivia Karas talks about her season-ending injury against Maryland and how it won't stop her from cheering.
As many of you already know, I ruptured my right Achilles' tendon on the last pass in my floor routine at home against Maryland. Of course, this injury was not a part of my plan for this season, but it has already, one week post-op, taught me so many wonderful things.
The scary thing is that I knew the minute I took off, that I had ruptured my Achilles. The mere second that I was airborne on that pass, I contemplated many different scenarios of how to land the safest. Ultimately, my best bet was to pull my legs as hard as possible and just hope for the best. I am very grateful to have landed as safely as I did.
Laying on that floor as my music finished felt like hours. My mom actually claims I tried to stand up to finish the routine. The classic Liv hip-pop at the end is possibly my favorite part of the routine, so I think I was more upset that I didn't get to do it. Thankfully, my conscience told me to stay down.
I left the arena with a smile on my face. That is a very odd sentence to have written here amidst me sharing the story of my season-ending injury, but let me explain.
It hadn't even been 30 minutes and the amount of support and love that filled my heart was indescribable. I knew this was going to be a journey, but at that moment, I knew I had the best people around me to help me power through. I crutched up the tunnel that we so graciously run out each time for our home meets with Emma McLean holding my bag and jacket on one side and Bev Plocki on the other. We just laughed the whole way up the tunnel about some joke I made. I'm kind of like Chandler Bing on "Friends." I just constantly make jokes to make myself feel better.
Emma put me in my car and we just started laughing. We talked about the meet like nothing had even happened all the way to dinner to meet our parents. I was carried into the restaurant and up all of the stairs by baseball player Troy Miller (Coach Bakich, he's doing some extra lifts!).
The point of me writing this isn't to enlighten you on my journey of showering in the handicap shower at the field hockey facility (shout-out to my roommates, love you guys), or to share how I have tried vacuuming our house while on my scooter and it just really doesn't work. The point is that sometimes, things like this happen for a reason. I don't know that reason yet, but one day, I'll look back and realize why all of this happened.
Olivia Karas is in good spirits despite surgery on her right Achilles' tendon.
Injuries are never fun, but Michigan fans, I promise I will be back strutting like Madonna before you even know it. Until then, my promise to you is that I am going to be the best cheerleader for Team 42 you have ever seen. If you thought I was loud before, think again. I can still get hype on a scooter (and be very, very careful). This team is magical and I am so excited to watch it do unbelievable things this year.
And in times like these, sometimes looking at the wonderful aspects just makes it all worth it. First of all, my 13 teammates, you are the best sisters a girl could ever ask. I have so much love for every single one of you and promise that I will be screaming as loud as possible for you every day. My coaches, thank you for supporting me through it all and being just awesome people. Lisa Hass, you're the best. Fans, I love you guys. This has been tough, but all of your kind messages have kept me going. My friends, roommates and athletic community, thank you to everyone for checking in and keeping me motivated. Watching you all do big things this year will make coming back even better. Event staff, thank you for all of your support and for helping me maneuver around Crisler in a wheelchair. Family, thanks for being you and for being my rocks through it all.Â
Just like you said Papa Hills, win the day, every day. I promise you I will with a big smile on my face, just like you.
Keep Pounding and always, Go Blue!
Liv
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