Kandice Olivieri - The longest road I’ve followed

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Category: Kandice Olivieri

Every road has its hills and slopes, its bumps and holes and its wrong ways, its stops, a never ending array of red, orange and green lights, u-turn permitted, give-way, slow down and the list goes on. The journey on a road can very much relate to the journey of a rehabbing athlete; in my case the 12 month rehabilitation of a completely ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL).

Before I held a hockey stick in my hand, won my first national 100m athletics title during school years, won individual apparatus events in gymnastics, competed at state surf life saving, swimming, and cross country carnivals, plunged head first from a 10 metre platform as a 9 year old, I knew that whatever I chose to do in my sporting life would be at the highest of levels, for Australia. I wanted the feeling of having a country be proud of my hard work and representing them. I remember sitting infront of the TV waiting for Cathy Freemans 400m Final at the Sydney Olympics. I was in ore, hoping one day I would have an entire nation behind me chasing Gold. I hadn’t even been introduced to the game of hockey when the ‘Golden Era’ 2000 Sydney Olympic Hockeyroos won gold. The Olympics was my goal in whatever field of sport.

This dream came to a grinding halt last year and I suffered an extensive blow to my left knee in a club game 1 week before the selections of a lifetime. I was a week away from starting a dream that was at the time still just a dream. Unfortunately, to this day, it is still stands a dream, but something I believe is more real and reachable than I’ve ever thought it to be. It wasn’t until a week later after I had my collision on the field that I was made aware that I had a ruptured ACL and would need a full knee reconstruction and a minimum 9 to 12 month rehabilitation plan. I think everyone’s experienced that feeling when your heart sinks, your eyes welter up, you go limp in your muscles and your whole world is crushed in front of you. It took me a few days to come to terms but it had happened and nothing was going to change that.

I entered surgery 3 days post news. I had no idea what to expect. The strange feeling of calmness came over me as I entered the waiting room. This is probably due to the fact that I was in ore of a star in the room. Nathan Fyfe sat patiently across from me. It was strange to think that my partner at the time was more excited that a player from his invincible Dreamteam was in his presence then his girlfriend having knee surgery. Bit of a giggle.

I woke up post surgery, lost, dazed and confused. I jolted a few times realising the excruciating pain from my knee. Tears, tears and more tears. The rehabilitation has begun. I thought it rather strange to have the lady who had nose surgery closer to the bathroom rather than me. I saw the wheelchair and the crutches and the nurse helped me and offered the chair. I declined. I’ll take the crutches thanks. The night in hospital was horrible. I never want to find myself in that situation again. I couldn’t wait to get home.

Once I returned home things were a little bit more relaxed. My mother flew over from Queensland to my aid and was an amazing support. For that, I am incredibly grateful for. I’m sorry I never finished your Vegemite toast. I didn’t want to make you feel bad for suffocating the bread. Love You!

In the first 2 weeks I had numerous visits to my AIS physio Jennifer Cooke who got the ball rolling for me. Those 2 weeks were the hardest of them all. Not only was it excruciating but I had to learn how to walk all over again. I felt like a baby learning the mechanisms of the leg and its incredibly hard to focus on the natural movement of the knee when walking. I had the right calf muscle of a world fitness model and the left of a baby foal whose just learnt to stand (and alot of excess skin. Captain no muscles)

The days and weeks slowly became easier and before I knew it I was post 8 weeks and on the bike. What a feeling. I had lost a total of 7.8kgs and plummeted from 60kgs to just above 52kgs. A weight I hadn’t seen on the scales since.... well since ever! I was back working at 3 months and ventured home for the Christmas period. It was then at 4 months that I began running.

There had been so many times before 4 months that I felt invincible and that I could just step back out on the field then and there. But if there’s anything I’ve learned from all this, it’s to have patiences. Patience with myself and my desires, with my coaches, family and friends. The moment I ran I cried. It was just another giant step on this road of recovery.

Every session became longer, faster and easier. I felt myself gaining more strength and fitness. I returned back to Perth to further continue my rehab. I was cleared for stick training at 5 months and was although limited in my involvement felt the little pieces of my shattered dream slowing finding its way together again. 2 incredibly wise coaches who have guided me throughout this process telling me it’s a great time to practice my skills and hoan in on my weaknesses. I did just that.

(Night Trainings and 5am skills sessions)

After training, running and being in the gym for a solid 3 and a half months after my first stick session back. I played my first game on the 26^th of May 2012. Officially 8 months, 3 weeks and 3 days, 39 weeks, 274 days post surgery was when I made my return to the field. We may have lost 8-2 but it was the happiest I had felt in 9 months.

(First Game Back got Old Aquinians)

I am now close to post 12 months and looking ahead to our 2012 Australian Hockey League campaign held in Perth. As a member of the Queensland Scorchers squad I have work harder than I ever have before to be the best player I can be and I’m still growing. If selected, I believe this journey will be one of the greatest and most challenging journeys I have faced. I have grown as a person, a player and a student of the game. I have gained so much knowledge of the direction I want to take in my life, the person I want to be and the people who I know will be there through thick and thin.

There are a few people I would like to thank:

Des King- Queensland Academy of Sport Head Coach: I have heard many stories, quotes and experiences from you that are embedded in my mind. You have become such a mentor for me over the years and particularly in the last 12 months. Your commitment to helping me through this all is something I am truly forever grateful for. Thank you for never giving up on me and helping me believe that resilience is one of the greatest assets an athlete can have.

Jenn Cooke, Erin Smyth, Rowena Kendal and Andrew Lulham- The 3 amazing physios that I saw throughout my rehab and Andrew my strength and conditioning coach. All 4 so experienced and supportive of me and kept me on a leash. Thank you so much for the ongoing guidance throughout my rehab. You all kept me in one piece and I believe it was such a smooth rehab because of the day to day support and communication between everyone.

To my family: Dad, Mum and Cam there’s no one else out there like you 3. Not once did you give up, push me or leave me stranded. You have the biggest hearts and I know everyone out there thinks their parents are the greatest in the world. But mine really are. Thank you for keeping my dreams alive and sharing this journey with me.