A major injury can end an athlete's career. For those lucky enough to recover, the post-injury emotions and doubts can be more challenging than the physical tests of returning. Jessica Pouchet '06, a member of the gymnastics team, overcame a severe Achilles tendon injury to return to competition this season after only a week of practice.
After a strong first year competing in vault and bars, Pouchet returned to gymnastics in December 2003 looking to build on her success. During the annual Mock Meet, Pouchet tore her right Achilles tendon while performing a double pike on floor. Luckily, she was not injured further, as her coach was spotting and was able to help Pouchet finish the skill safely.
"My first reaction was that someone like Tonya Harding hit me, because it feels like you were hit in the back of the calf, not like you tore it," Pouchet said.
After being rushed to the hospital, Pouchet underwent surgery the next morning to repair the damage to her Achilles, and then began a month-long recovery before starting the arduous process of rehabilitation. While many athletes become depressed from the inability to compete and the daunting challenge of a long rehab period, Pouchet used her optimistic personality to stay motivated and involved with the team.
Pouchet turned to the example set by teammate Alyssa Rosen '05, a 2003 Spirit Award winner who had also suffered a season-ending injury. Pouchet saw how Rosen had motivated her teammates and was determined to play a similar role.
"(Rosen) was abroad when I tore my Achilles, but once I realized I would be in a similar situation, I decided I wanted to be as good of a sport about it as she had been," Pouchet said. "One of my goals last year after tearing my Achilles was doing the opposite of putting fear into my team (about getting injured), to inspire them instead."
As she helped encourage her teammates and saw their accomplishments, Pouchet was motivated even more to get into the training room to strengthen her Achilles.
"If you can't contribute with routines or scores, it doesn't mean you can't help move mats or give a teammate confidence," Pouchet said. "Every bit of support for your team helps. I knew I still wanted to contribute, and that is what would keep me inspired to keep going back to the training room."
Head Coach Sara Carver-Milne lauded Pouchet's attitude.
"Jessica has always been our most inspirational teammate, even when she wasn't injured. She's one of our hardest workers as well," Carver-Milne said. "She kept that positive attitude when hurt."
Pouchet won the Spirit Award in 2004 - despite not competing - because of her dedication to being a positive influence for all her teammates.
The test to her spirit continued, as Pouchet spent the fall semester in Barcelona, where she was unable to practice any gymnastics. The last time she had set foot on the mat was during the summer, when she was finally regaining many of the skills she had lost while injured.
While she originally thought she would be able to ease back into competition, injuries to other gymnasts on the already shorthanded team forced Pouchet to compete after only one week of practice.
"I hadn't done any routines in practice before the meets, so it was a big toss-up as to whether I'd hit or not," Pouchet said. "Gymnastics is such a mental sport, so when I was looking at the bars before my routine, I just pretended nothing had changed since the last time I had competed and didn't let any doubts slip into my mind."
Her positive attitude has paid off, as Pouchet has become an all-around competitor for Brown this season. Her performance at the first two meets earned her the ECAC's weekly Coaches' Choice Honor. While Pouchet admits she is still working to return to level she was at her first year, she is pleased with her performance.
"I've been really impressed with myself, because I have been going all out and trying to believe in myself," Pouchet said. "I remembered how to compete, how to hit in pressure situations."
Pouchet's performance so far has impressed others as well.
"I think she surprised a lot of people including herself," Carver-Milne said. "We thought it would be a bonus if she could compete anything, considering the circumstance. She has had highest score ... in some events (this year)."
While Pouchet may seem fearless, a major freak injury like tearing an Achilles puts some trepidation into Pouchet's mind. While tearing her right Achilles again is highly unlikely, Pouchet worries the left will tear. She admits that sometimes she has flashbacks of her injury during a performance. The weakness in her right ankle, which still isn't back to 100 percent, inhibits her ability to perform to her standards on the beam, which requires a lot of ankle and foot stability, Pouchet said.
However, the ability to stay motivated and learn from a bad experience such as an injury can be invaluable. Pouchet has learned to cherish her sport and is determined to not let any fear of a new injury impede her season.
"Every time you lose something, you realize how much you miss it, and how much you appreciate it," Pouchet said. "Even though before I was always really enthusiastic about gymnastics and the opportunity to do it, I am even more so now. Because it was such a big reminder of how little time we have left in this sport. It isn't a sport you can do after college," she said.
"Sitting out last year made me feel like I needed to live up every moment of the sport because you never know when it is going to end."
