Emily Sweeney makes incredible comeback

Lake Placid (RWH) After completing two great runs, making it onto the podium in her comeback race, and then powering through the flower ceremony, Emily Sweeney had just one wish left: to lie down, relax, and – most importantly – undergo a round of treatment. The fact that she shed a few tears up on the podium after a journey full of ups and downs is not particularly surprising if you are familiar with the American athlete’s story.

Emily Sweeney is still experiencing the effects of a crash at the Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang (KOR). The pain she suffered following the crash nine months ago is still with her to this day. And it showed no sign of abetting ahead of her comeback at the Viessmann World Cup race in the Canadian city of Whistler, where the former Junior World Champion finished in an incredible third place – the perfect way to top off her comeback experience.

Her crash in PyeongChang was terrible: after losing control of both herself and her sled, she careered feet-first into the top edge of the track, which then sent her skidding back down to the ice. Spectators at the Alpensia Sliding Centre – including her mother Sue – and TV audiences across the globe waited with bated breath. Somehow, Emily Sweeney managed to stand up again unaided and walked away from the crash. In fact, she even insisted on going to the mixed zone to respond to questions from the media.

She was X-rayed that same night, followed by an MRI scan the next day. Both examinations came back clear. Despite being in pain, Emily Sweeney remained positive that she felt fine. It was not until later that further examinations revealed the full impact of the crash: fractures to her neck and spine. Nevertheless, Emily Sweeney was keen not to put a dampener on the Olympic spirit with news of her injuries and decided to keep her diagnosis more or less to herself. 

Her ordeal did not truly get underway until she was back at home. A few months ago, she could hardly stand on a treadmill, let alone run on one. Any plans for full-blown training ahead of the new season were out the window. However, she was adamant that she would return to her sled. “So many people would say I was crazy. But to honest, it scared me more not to get back on my sled. I didn't want to go through my life with such a terrible ending to luge,” as Emily Sweeney told the news agency AP. Sweeney continued: “I didn’t want to be afraid of anything. I didn’t really have a choice: I had to come back.” And she did. To great success. As her performance in Whistler demonstrates.

Spectators will have another chance to get an idea of Emily Sweeney’s determination, fighting spirit and talent this weekend when the Viessmann World Cup tour arrives at her home track in Lake Placid. The women’s race is scheduled for Sunday (16 December / start: 8:30 a.m. local time).