What was that horrendous crunching sound?

Tuesday was an amazing day for me until IT happened. Those dreaded three letters no athlete wants to ever hear. ACL.

I was a competitive gymnast in high school many moons ago. I stopped being involved in the sport after high school. I still did a little coaching and some judging, but I didn't really do gymnastics anymore. I still followed it closely on TV and watched all the major meets, but I didn't really do the sport other than handstands and cartwheels.

After the 2008 Olympics, I really got bit by the bug. I wanted it again and I wanted it badly. I found a gym near me, but I was having shoulder issues at the time and put off going to the gym. This past August, I started tumbling again at age 41. First I was doing gymnastics, next I was also coaching and having the best time of my life. I got my front tucks back, my back tucks, layouts, aerials. I was doing all the tricks I did in high school and then some. There was one trick, however, that still eluded me. The layout full twist. I have often said that I don't want to die without ever having done one. Perhaps I should have never said that. The day I got my finally got my full twist (forward and backward, mind you) was the day I tore my ACL. I landed a grand total of three. The last one I did was followed by the worst sound I ever heard. My knee absolutely crunched under the strain of twisting on a landed foot. I understand that it was heard across the gym. The screaming that followed was probably heard down the block.

Here is my full before the accident. I was taping it hoping to be able to post it on my Facebook page. Luckily I did because I don't think I will ever do it again.

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It's been five days since the injury and I have had my ups and downs. Well really, I've had my downs. The ups haven't happened yet. I have been drowning in a sea of tears. Not only have I had my sport taken away from me, but my job too. I love coaching and I already miss my girls. I am hoping to get into the gym in a week or two to start coaching again, although I won't be doing any spotting for a while. As for gymnastics, I will hopefully work bars and maybe do light tumbling again, but that won't happen for a very long time.

My doctor said I am looking at surgery in six weeks when the swelling goes down and then 6 months of physical therapy. I'll keep this blog going to let you know my progress.

Here is what my knee looks like now. It's been five days. Wow, has it really already been five days?