Salome Lang and the way back

During the season, Salome Lang had slight pain again and again. Thanks to their flights of fancy, they were initially smaller than expected. Only after the Olympic Games in Tokyo did Salome Lang realize that they were a bit worse than expected.

The high jumper wanted to avoid an operation at first, but she soon realized that this is unavoidable: “When it got really bad, my foot fell asleep as soon as I sat down. Then you know that the nerve is under too much pressure. So they cut open a piece of the back and took out the protruding part of the intervertebral disc. It was a minimal procedure that only lasted an hour. I was then in the hospital for two days, but was able to walk again straight away.»

Back in small steps

After the operation she had to start with very small steps. It’s not easy for a top athlete like her: “After a week I went to physiotherapy for the first time. I was only allowed to tense my abdominal muscles, which was a bit depressing. In the first three weeks I was only allowed to lie down,” says Lang.

“But then progress came very quickly. It was always a vacillation: Did you do too much or not enough? I had to find a middle way. But then from week to week there was always a new exercise and so the time in rehab was still a bit fun for me. »

Joy and respect at the first jumps

Since the new year she has already started with the advanced training. But it will be a little longer before she can jump properly again. “We’re slowly approaching it. First the corner runs will come without taking off. At some point it’s all about jumping off without straining your back and then we’ll probably jump off a short run-up. So everything step by step. »

In a few weeks she will probably be able to do the first jumps. The anticipation is already there, but also the respect: «In the beginning I will probably jump a bit inhibited. That takes some effort and I have to regain my trust. But as long as the doctors say it’s okay, I don’t really have to worry.”

First competitions planned for June

Salome Lang wants to contest the first competitions in June. Despite the injury, the woman from Basel is optimistic that it can be a good comeback year: “Physically, it should certainly be possible. Technically I don’t know yet how big the deficit will be, but I really believe that it can be a good summer. However, I’m not saying that I really want to break the Swiss record again this year,” said Land. “I’ll give everything and then we’ll see what comes out.”

See part 2 here:

^{The Telebasel Sports post from January 13, 2022.}