Last night was Kobe Bryant’s first game back after rupturing his achilles 8 months ago. I’m not a big Lakers or Kobe fan. I do respect his skill, work ethic and determination though.
While watching the Warriors play the Lakers on April 12th, I saw Kobe get his body low and try to explode around a defender. He pushed off with his left foot and his face immediately showed the pain he was in. When he took a step and tried to put weight on that same left foot he went to the ground holding his achilles. In the replay you can see his left foot in a ridiculous dorsiflexion position when he pushed off. I really didn’t know anything about achilles tendon ruptures at that point, so I didn’t really feel for him as much as I do now.
This is similar to how I ruptured my achilles. I had just rounded first base and lowered my body to get in position to sprint to second base. As I pushed off to begin my sprint, my left achilles popped.
Another pro-athlete made his return from an achilles rupture recently.
Last week, San Francisco 49ers wide-receiver Michael Crabtree had his first start since rupturing his achilles May 22nd. I had to go to that game. I was 5 weeks post-op and full weight bearing in my VacoCast. Crabtree caught a 20 yard pass then ran for 40 yards with a clear path to the end zone until two defensive backs caught up to him.
Would he have scored if he wasn’t fresh off an achilles injury? I don’t know, maybe. But he had the biggest grin on his face afterwards. That was the moment he was waiting and training for over the past 6-months of rehab work.
I’m sure everyone who is coming back or who has come back from an achilles rupture has had their breakthrough moment.
What was yours?
