Saturday, November 17, 2001
Emily aims for Salt Lake
By CAMERON MAXWELL -- Calgary Sun
It's likely Canadian skier Emily Brydon won't ski the downhill event in Salt Lake City but said she's confident she'll compete in the Super-G and slalom races.
But Brydon said she's just happy to have a chance to be at the Olympics following a crash in Colorado on Sunday that resulted in her tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.
The man who reconstructed her knee on Wednesday, Dr. Pat McConkie, said there's a good chance she'll be able to ski in February, which was music to Brydon's ears.
"I think it's very positive feedback ... and as soon as I heard, it gave me something to strive for and put my rehab program into a new perspective," said the 21-year-old Fernie resident. "Being told I could come back had a huge effect on my psychology."
The accident, which happened in training at Copper Mountain in Vail, was the second time the speedster tore ligaments in one of her knees.
In February, at St. Anton, Austria, Brydon tore the ACL, the medial collateral ligament and the medial meniscus in her right knee. Dr. McConkie performed the reconstructive surgery on that knee as well.
And when she felt the tear this time, understandably, a huge feeling of discouragement went through her head.
"Frustration," said Brydon.
"It was pretty hard because there I was, just back from the other injury, and I know I've got to do it all over again."
Fortunately, the healing process should be quicker this time and Brydon is already working on increasing the range of motion in her knee and could be back on the slopes within a month.
"I'm playing it by ear and may be on skis in six weeks just to get the feel of the snow," she said. Brydon admitted the downhill events will likely be out for her because of the force put on her knee but said she's confident about skiing the Super-G and slalom.
"With those events, it's not as hard on (the knee) as downhill, where there's a lot of force and gravity working against you," said Brydon.
Brydon qualified for the Olympic team based on a great start to last season.
She finished third in a World Cup downhill race at St. Moritz, Switzerland, and notched eight other top-15 finishes in speed and technical events before the Austria crash in the downhill competition.
2002 Games Alpine Skiing Coverage
