“Oh this toe…boy, God is really good,” she said after her warm up at the National Stadium in Kingston Jamaica. Sanya Richards-Ross is back and ready to compete at the Jamaica International Invitational after being absent for a year.
“There was a time I thought I would never run again. But God has brought me a long way, and I am so blessed to be back on the track, Amen.”
Since winning gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Sanya Richards-Ross has had to deal with multiple disappointments in her bid to recover from foot surgery. The 400 meter runner did surgery on the big toe of her right foot almost immediately following winning gold, to fix the problem of worn cartilage that resulted in bone rubbing against bone.
Six months later Richards-Ross was back on and competed at the US trials in June following a month and a half of training on the track. That comeback however, ended in disaster as the pain she experienced in her foot forced her to compete in running shoes, instead of spikes, in the finals where she finished 6th.
“After nationals I went to Canada and realized that I couldn’t run on it so I went to see another doctor, one of the best in the USA and he did another surgery. This was in August of 2013. He shaved down the bone and put two screws in the toe to stabilize it and then I was able to start training almost three months after that.”
Three months of therapy, including lots of pool work, was followed by a month of work on grass only. Now after two full months on the track, the 29 year old is feeling good and ready to test herself on one of her favourite tracks and favourite meets.
“I am really, really excited to be back on the track, feeling fresh and young and like I have a lot left in the tank. I can’t wait to perform for some of the best track and field fans in the world, against what is a really good field for this time of year. I honestly believe they will be in for a treat.”
Richards-Ross will line up against athletes such as, Novlee Williams-Mills, Stephenie McPherson, Christine Day, Kalise Spencer and Francena McCorory in what should be a stellar event at 9:30pm.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login