家族に手伝ってもらいながらどうにか車に乗り込み知人に紹介してもらった病院へ向かいます。
With the help of my family, I managed to get into the car and headed to the hospital where a friend had introduced me.
I had thought of giving up being an athlete, but on this day, two things motivated me to pursue my athletic dreams once again.
One was during the wait at the hospital for the examination.
"I guess the Olympics are out of the question now."
I muttered to my wife who was pushing the wheelchair.
"Why would you say that? You've put your life into this so far. Giving up so easily? It's your choice to give up, but if you keep saying it's impossible, then it definitely will be. why don't you make a drama out of coming back from a serious injury to the Olympics, just give it your all."
She said to me.
It's a pretty tough love message for someone who lost in a competition, got injured, and is feeling down lol
"It's not like I'm giving up easily, and it's obviously tough on this side too."
I had mixed feelings, but such a tough comment could only come from my wife, and it's true that "if you think it's impossible, then it will be impossible." It's obvious, but that's exactly right.
When it was time for the examination, I entered the examination room. "A plaster cast! It's been about 10 years since I've seen one," they said, surprised by the Malaysian cast. I had the cast removed with an electric saw, being told that they won't cut my leg, it was still quite frightening.
After switching to a cast from Japan, I underwent an MRI, X-ray, and continued on.
After the scans were done, I had another consultation.
The results of that consultation were the second turning point.
"Just like they said over at the hospital in Malaysia,your patellar tendon is torn. We'll open it up to see inside, but honestly, there's a possibility that returning to competitive sports may be impossible."
My mind went blank for a moment.
However, looking back now, I was surprisingly calm in that instant.
"Oh, I see."
I said that, and as I heard about the immediate need for hospitalization, the surgery scheduled for the next day, and the explanation of the operation process and details, the emotions that had been bubbling up inside of me at the time were simply:
"I will definitely make a comeback."
That was all.
There was not a trace of despair or negative feelings; that determination simply bubbled up inside me.
The possibility that I might not play the sport I spent my life was not acceptable.
I was determined to make a comeback without fail.
And if I was going to aim for a comeback anyway, as my wife suggested, I decided that I would make a drama out of returning and competing in the Olympics.
Encouraged by everyone, the wavering feelings I had turned into determination after the doctor's words:
"Returning to competition might be difficult."
That one phrase changed everything for me.
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