Injuries are a serious issue for athletes young and old as it can dramatically or subtly change the path you follow when it comes to your sport.
For some it’s the end of a career. For another it’s a start of a new path. For others it can be a time of reflection on whether to hang it up and call it a career. There are also those who look at quitting as not being an option so they work hard at recovering and then continue on their sporting journey.
The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in Red Deer has a new display which recently opened called “Defining Moments” and it speaks volumes about a handful of athletes and their injuries.
“It talks about and actually shows the public the x-rays of the injuries that the athlete has had, a little bit about the athlete and then it talks about the injury and how they overcame that injury,” said Donna Hateley, managing director of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.
There is the incredible story about Calgary gymnast Kyle Shewfelt who broke both is legs and still went on to compete at the highest level of his sport.
The list includes local athletes like speed skater Jeremy Wotherspoon and aerial skier Deidre Dionne, both former Olympians. Stories about injuries are also told about local hockey player Travis Brigley and professional rodeo cowboy Duane Daines.
Daines was on hand for the opening of the display which includes a video which laid out his injury which left him in a wheel chair.
“I was a professional rodeo cowboy and had a pretty nice career and one split second changed it all,” he said.” It was about 20 years ago I had a spinal injury right in the chute but then a new chapter in your life starts then. I look back at it and it seems like a long time ago but it’s been a good journey.”
That statement right there is an example of what this display conveys to the public.
These injuries do not define the athletes who suffered them. It’s a thread in the fabric of what they are as people first and athletes second.
“When you talk to the individuals it changed their life completely but it changed it for something different,” said Hateley.’ You don’t know whether it’s better or not because you don’t know what their life would have been like without the injury.”
Both Wotherspoon, who broke his arm and Dionne who suffered a broken neck, managed to recover physically from their injuries and continued to compete. There is no x-ray to show what sort of mental recovery they achieved.
Brigley had to hang up the skates as a hockey player as a combination of injuries teamed up to damage his back so much it wouldn’t allow him to compete anymore but he still coaches minor hockey, keeping him in the game.
Daines’ bronc riding career ended that day and he dealt with situation, day to day with help from family and friends.
“At first you think you’re going to snap out of it, something’s going to shake it off and you’re going to be all right. But I really tried to not worry about it too much. It was almost day by day.”
But there was another source of motivation pushing him towards acceptance of his situation and the need to get over it as quick as possible.
“Probably the biggest factor was my wife was expecting in about seven months so there is no crossroads. We’ve got a baby coming so let’s get it together and go on so that might have been the biggest inspiration.”
He is still involved with the sport of rodeo and is proud to be a big fan.
“I’ve done board of directors years ago and kind of giving back to what it gave to me but I like following it and the young guys,” he said.” My youngest daughter (barrel racer Sydney) is a high level competitor and that kind of throws me into the mix to help her out any way I can.”
The exhibit will be on display for two years and it might serve as a source of inspiration for any current and future athletes who walk through the hall.
“If you have a dream and you have a goal and you can achieve that, it may take you off in a different direction and your dream may change and your goal may change but as long as you believe you can achieve,” said Hateley.
