The recovery of Tamara Gómez

The triathlete who was struggling to be at the Olympics suffered an injury that made her give up the classification

 

After several months outside Spain, we have taken the opportunity to talk with Tamara Gómez to find out how you are about your injury in the vertex L2, we have also taken the opportunity to ask him how he sees the girls on his way to Rio and we have wished his recovery go very well

 

The March 6 told us that you were giving up trying to be in Rio because of an injury to a vertebra. Specifically, what injury did you have? What happened to you?

I had a fracture in L2. Honestly I still do not know exactly how I broke up, well, how I broke myself, but not how it started.

Maybe it all started with a blow I had at the end of November, but I do not know. The fact is that two weeks after starting training (two weeks after this blow) I started to feel some discomfort but I ignored it because I thought it was the typical contracture at the beginning of the season.

 The thing was more, had enough discomfort at all times. I had a resonance at the end of January. In the results of the resonance I was told that the only thing I saw was a small protrusion in L5-S1, so they gave me a treatment for that, but it did not work. I continued to train normally, although with pain that was increasing every time, during all that time (because in theory there was no risk with what we knew) until one day I went by bike (specifically the February 27) and I felt a very intense pain that prevented me from pedaling or resting my foot on the floor, or practically moving.

 I went to see a doctor in Cape Town (because at that time we were training in South Africa) and after several tests they confirmed that I had fractured the L2.

How were those first days after knowing the injury? And after several weeks, how are you now?

It was a really big stick, especially for the year it is. But hey, things come as they come and I'm sure I come out stronger from this. I tried to take my best.

A part was quite painful, and uncomfortable, because I could not move normally, nor sit normal, I could not (and I can not) take weight (bags, suitcases, etc.) ...

The only '' treatment '' for that injury was rest. I have been very quiet since then (this is the ninth week), the only thing I have done to move has been to walk, and until three weeks ago, quite little. I have not started training yet but if everything goes well I hope to start next week.

Although I could not do anything, I traveled to Australia and South Africa, because I had planned to travel and I wanted to be with my training group and my partner, and see the races even from the sidelines.

You had to modify your calendar due to the injury, when do you think you could be competing?

Well, I had to cancel my competitive calendar. I do not know when I will be able to compete, at the moment as I said I have not started to train yet, and the lap will be slow.

It has been more than two months without doing anything, and the doctors told me that I have to start little by little. It's not like returning after resting between seasons, it's starting pretty much from 0 and with care. So I do not put dates, when I'm well and I feel good to compete I'll compete, I hope it's this year hehe.

So, what brand objectives are here at the end of the season?

My priority is to recover well and re-link months of consistent training. I still can not have "competitive" goals because I do not know when I will be able to be at a good level.

About Rio, the girls have had a great start to the year and are practically with a foot half the 3 at the Olympics. How do you see Carol, Miriam and Ainhoa ​​in the fight to be in Rio?

The three are competing very well in all races (which are not few), and this is not easy. I'm sure all three will be in Rio. Obviously I would have liked to be in your situation, but I am very happy for them, for all they are working and the desire they are putting, and I have a special affection for all three of them, so I will see them from home with enthusiasm and with a little envy

Last year you ran the Rio de Janeiro test ... Is the bike circuit as hard as it seems?

The circuit is hard, the climb is quite steep and the descent that there is practically nothing else to get up is technical, in addition there is a steep slope after the descent that can also hurt, but it is also true that there is a long and flat section without a lot of difficulty because it is wide and without technical parts, I think we have competed in tougher circuits.

However, in tests of this level (not only the Olympic Games, also World Series), a circuit that on paper may seem easy and give rise to think that the bike will be '' quiet '', cheats. The bike in these tests is always hard.

To finish, it's been a hard few months for you, do you have any special thanks?

I have to thank those who have been really supporting me, and those people know who they are.

Thank you very much for the interview we wish you the best and that the recovery is going very well.