Athletes Connected: Coon on Season-Ending Injury and Mental Health
11/3/2017 10:00:00 AM | Wrestling, Features
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Athletes Connected, a University of Michigan collaborative program between the Depression Center, Intercollegiate Athletics and School of Public Health, on Thursday (Nov. 2) unveiled the first of three videos that address student-athletes and how they coped with injury.
In the first installment, U-M wrestler and two-time All-America heavyweight Adam Coon details his long road back from a shoulder injury suffered in 2016. Coon narrowly missed out on the Rio Olympics, was tabbed to travel as a training partner in Brazil, but suffered a torn labrum that knocked him out for the training trip as well as the entire 2016-17 competitive season.
The story, told exclusively by Coon, looks at his struggle from initial injury and diagnosis. He learned how pain can go beyond the physical as his identity as an active world-class athlete was stripped away. He felt isolated and helpless, while he questioned his self-worth.
As Coon's progress through rehabilitation continued, he learned to accept the process, which made the recovery easier. As time went on, Coon was able to focus on himself and his own recovery and not compare himself to his healthy teammates. Now, a full year past his surgery, Coon is ready for his fifth-year senior season with hopes of earning a third All-America distinction.
Learn more about the Athletes Connected Program and view additional videos at athletesconnected.umich.edu.
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