Training before Junior Worlds

Training was going great after Senior Worlds and then around the beginning of October I sprained my ankle. The sprain was very bad but I was lucky I was able to get right into sports medicine and get ice and kenisio tape on my ankle right away. The swelling and bruising ended up not being too bad but I was still very sore and in quite a bit of pain. I also had to learn how to use crutches which wasn't too bad but stairs were a little harder. I was able to get in the pool a few days later to get some kind of a workout. I had to stick to pulling and no kicking for a while. The water felt like it was helping to loosen things up a little in my ankle and help start to strengthen it up again. The recovery was actually pretty quick; sports medicine was very surprised at how quickly I was able to start doing harder and harder rehab exercises. About a week and a half later I was able to start running and soon after fencing again! My ankle was getting sore still but I wasn't having any pain which was very good.

About a month after I sprained my ankle I ended up getting a concussion. I was doing an event called Reach the Peak at the Olympic Training Center and as a part of the event we played Goal Ball. This is a paralympic event that people who are blind play and it is somewhat like bowling and soccer. I ended up getting hit in the head pretty hard and got somewhat of a bloody nose and a headache. I didn't think anything of it since I felt fine for the next two days. I had been training but when I when did a hard running workout two days after I began getting very bad headaches and feeling dizzy. The doctors concluded from the concussion test as well as other things that I did in fact get a concussion from being hit. Just another injury to add to the list :( I had to take training lighter for a few days and get lots of rest. I am feeling much better and ready to head off to Junior Worlds in Argentina soon!