Skip to main content
17686
Go to International Paralympic Committee homepage Official website of the Paralympic Movement
Contrast:
High Contrast
Normal Contrast
Enlargement:
Larger Font Size
Default Font Size
Smaller Font Size
    • Home
    • Paralympic Games
    • Events & Competitions
    • The IPC
    • Results, Rankings & Records
    • Media centre
    • Sports
    • Classification
    • Videos
    • Athletes
    • Fan Zone
    • NPCs
    • Agitos Foundation
    • Partnerships
    • Newsletter
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Instagram

    Media Centre

    • News
    • Blogs
    • Newsletter
    • Magazine
    • Athlete of Month
    • Media Office
    • Ones to Watch
    • Campaigns
    • Top 10 Moments

    Esther Vergeer: Shoulder Injury Opens My Eyes

    22.03.2012

    The Wheelchair Tennis star talks about what her life is like in the lead-up to the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

    Esther Vergeer in action at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games Esther Vergeer in action at Beijing 2008. © • Lieven Coudenys
    By Esther Vergeer
    Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker
    Related Features
    BBC Names Six More International Athletes to Watch at London 2012

    In my car I was completely stressed. Six months before the Games, and then this.

    Please click here to view a recent video blog from Esther.

    In many cases, the words spoken by someone else may open your eyes.

    Sometimes, however, you must first feel, to force yourself to make choices that are not the best, but ultimately better for yourself. I was already busy taking things off my shoulders so I could focus more on Wheelchair Tennis, but my recent shoulder injury was the last part of the eye-opener. I was afraid. A lot of bad things crossed my mind.

    Fortunately, I'm now back pain free on the court. And I yearn for the upcoming tournaments in the United States.

    Since New Year’s, I rushed from one appointment to the next, from training to tournament.

    The Australian Open, meetings, appointments, dinners, the ABN AMRO World Wheelchair Tennis Tournament, the intensive training in the new chair. The tires and minor aches you normally get over it, felt greater.

    But you don’t just adjust your schedule. Everyone is sometimes busy, or sleeps a bit worse.

    Indeed, I could still function. Until I felt a twinge during physical training.

    "This is not good, I thought.”

    I then wanted to make the transfer to my wheelchair and then I have to lean on my arms and that was painful. Uphill with the wheelchair gave me pain and manoeuvring in the car was hurting, too.

    In my car I was completely stressed. Six months before the Games, and then this.

    After a visit to the therapist the next day it felt like muscle pain, but a few days later during my training I saw a contour difference between the left (a point) and the right muscle (round).

    Luckily, there was nothing wrong with the tendon in my shoulder, otherwise surgery was inevitable. There was irritation and fluid around the biceps and thanks to intensive treatment by electro stimulation it has been resolved

    For me, this confirmed the feeling that I need to start outsourcing and transferring things to other people.

    Although, I wish I could do it all by myself and help develop things like Team ParaStars and Esther Vergeer Foundation.

    And in recent years, I have built up a personal relationship with so many people. It will be strange for both myself and these people that certain things and arrangements will be done by someone else.

    But if you explain it, everyone will understand.

    Pieter van den Hoogenband lately told me the same story during the kick-off of his Top Sports community. In the last six months before the Olympics, he did nothing besides swim.

    If I compare the current situation in relation to the preparation for my last three Paralympic Games, it is much busier. More media know where to find you, but also agencies and people. You can always get close to me, but now I must make different choices.

    The recent activities were certainly interesting. Included in these activities was the Wheelchair Sports Day for the Johan Cruyff Foundation. This time it was a combination of sports, a forum and the new “14 of Johan” were presented, which was a wonderful mix. From former skater Jan Bos, who is studying at the Cruyff Institute, to Paralympic swimmer Elise Schöll, it is so nice to see that these worlds are brought together and encourage each other.

    The highlight of the day formed the honour guard of volunteers for all wheelchair users, who also received applause from all partners and ambassadors who had been invited by the Foundation.

    • Tweet
      • print
      • send
    LATEST NEWS
    Nadezhda Fedorova suspended for anti-doping violation 05.08.2019 Nadezhda Fedorova suspended for anti-doping violation
    Nottwil 2019: USA top table as Junior Worlds conclude 05.08.2019 Nottwil 2019: USA top table as Junior Worlds conclude
    Nottwil 2019: Breathless third day 04.08.2019 Nottwil 2019: Breathless third day
    Nottwil 2019: Noah Malone makes his way 03.08.2019 Nottwil 2019: Noah Malone makes his way
    Vote for July’s Athlete of the Month 02.08.2019 Vote for July’s Athlete of the Month
    More news...following the link
    Worldwide Paralympic Partners
    Go to Atos partner page
    Go to Bridgestone partner page
    Go to OttoBock partner page
    Go to Panasonic partner page
    Go to Samsung partner page
    Go to Toyota partner page
    Go to Visa partner page
    International Partners
    Go to Allianz partner page
    Go to BP partner page
    Go to Citi partner page
    • FAQ
    • Privacy
    • Imprint
    • Jobs
    Powered by Go to Atos. Worldwide IPC partner page
    The Paralympic Games
    Summer Games
    Winter Games
    Sochi 2014
    Rio 2016
    All the results & medallist since 1960
    Games video archive
    About the IPC
    Who we are
    Anti-Doping
    Medical
    Partners
    IPC Strategic Plan 2015-2018
    IPC Handbook
    Publications and Documents
    Media Centre
    News
    Features & Interviews
    The Paralympian
    Videos
    Athlete of the Month
    Media Office
    Sports
    Summer Sports
    Winter Sports
    Biographies
    NPCS
    Africa
    America
    Asia
    Europe
    Oceania
    Go to International Paralympic Committee homepage
    Official Website of the Paralympic Movement • IPC
    Homepage
    Paralympic Games
    The IPC
    Results, Ranking & Records
    Media Centre
    Videos
    Sports
    International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
    Adenauerallee 212-214, 53113 Bonn, Germany
    Telephone: +49-228-2097-200 • Fax: +49-228-2097-209 • E-mail: info@paralympic.org
    14:36:38