Quebecer Brittany Phelan has learned many things about herself over the past four years.
The silver medalist at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics seemed destined for a better harvest at the Beijing Games. She did, however, seriously injure her knee in February 2020, when she landed on one leg after a failed jump in Megève, France.
In his 13-year career on the World Cup circuit, both in alpine skiing and ski cross, the athlete from Mont-Tremblant had never suffered such a serious injury. After her knee injury, she was sidelined for a year.
Sure, she had seen many of her teammates and friends put on enforced rest due to injuries before, but Phelan had never realized how such a psychological impact a physical injury could have.
“When it happens to others, you don’t realize the effort it takes to get back on track and how lonely you can feel,” Phelan said. Every day is devoted to rehabilitation. »
The 30-year-old began her rehabilitation process in Calgary, but had to return home to Whistler, B.C. when the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The measures in place did not allow him to continue his training in Alberta.
Even though his rehabilitation was long and arduous, Phelan still got something positive out of it. She now understands better what some of her teammates have gone through in the past, and she now takes a new look at her personal situation.
“It was difficult to realize how naive I was about the rehabilitation process that many of my teammates had to undergo, including some who are very dear to me,” she admitted.
Phelan has found her form this season, so much so that she has reached the podium twice in the World Cup. She won silver in Val Thorens on December 11, then bronze in Innichen, Italy, eight days later. She also won Nor-Am Cup gold Jan. 18-19 in Nakiska, Alta., in her last event before the Games.
Rounding out the women’s national ski cross team at the Beijing Games are Courtney Hoffos of Windermere, BC, Hannah Schmidt of Ottawa and Marielle Thompson of Whistler.
Like Phelan, Thompson will be competing at the Games after recovering from a major injury.
Unfortunately — or fortunately for her — the 29-year-old athlete already knew how to prepare for the Olympics in such a short time after undergoing surgery. She suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in October 2017 while preparing for the Pyeongchang Games. She tore the same anterior cruciate ligament in March, which has upended her preparation over the past year.
“It was a similar situation (to 2018), but I had a lot more time this time around,” said Thompson, who won gold in 2014 in Sochi.
Thompson has stood on the podium four times at the World Cup since her most recent injury. She won bronze in Val Thorens on December 12, gold in Arosa, Switzerland on December 14, bronze in Innichen on December 20 and silver in Nakiska on January 15.
“As in 2017, I managed to recover quite well,” assured Thompson. I wasn’t at my best, but I know that even if I’m not 100 percent, I can still pull through with good results. »
Hoffos and Schmidt will also be medal hopefuls. They each finished fourth in the World Cup recently: Hoffos in Sunny Valley, Russia, on March 13, and Schmidt, in Innichen, on December 20.