Camila Pedersen returns to training and aspires to glory

A Six months ago, ETU European Medium Distance Champion Camilla Pedersen was in a coma - her life was in the hands of the medical team that accompanied her.

 

Now, the Great Dane has completed a three-week training camp at Club La Santa in Lanzarote, where, as those who see her say: "he is training hard, evidence of an incredible recovery, a tough personality and a history that serves of inspiration.

 

 

The 3 of September of 2013, Pedersen was pedaling in his native Denmark before traveling to Mexico and then to Hawaii to continue his training. A few hours later, the medical staff at the Odense University hospital induced the drug coma.

 

"I was in the best moment of my life," recalls Pedersen, "We were pedaling and we passed some guys, just outside the forest. I had to deviate a bit to the left and touched a rear wheel. There was no time to react and as I fell, my head crashed to the pavement. "

 

Pedersen suffered fractures of the skull, brain, femur, vertebrae, ribs, chest compression and a shoulder injury. His life was in danger.

The medical team decided to induce a coma to decompress the brain. He remained in this state for 19 days before being transferred to the Hammel Neurological Center.

"When I woke up it was 20 for September. I said I should be in Hawaii, "says Pedersen. But the ETU 2011 World Champion soon understood the seriousness of the situation and took it as a challenge, the most important of her life.

 

"I could not stop, I could not walk," he says. "I was in a wheelchair but he told me it would not be for long. He told me that I should improve, win the battle.

 

"I spent a week crawling on my hands and knees ... and then I could stop."

It was the beginning of an incredible period of recovery that made it possible that after six months, Pedersen completed five weeks at the La Santa club training on bicycles, returned to the pool in January and put his eyes on a triathlon podium.

"I missed my sport. It is not easy being a triathlete but I felt so optimistic. He knew he would win the battle.

 

"I was anxious to get back on track. I did not feel fear or worry. I think it's because I missed so much ... "

 

Pedersen has proposed to return to the competition before the end of the season, then fight for another podium and claim their European titles of medium and long distance.

 

The Danish National Champion was grateful to the reaction of the triathlon community, one of the main reasons that prompted her to return to the sport and give the best of herself.

 

"I have no words to express how much support I received from my National Federation, from my friends, my family. I decided to fight for them.

 

"I'm in a good place, I'm happy. I do not fear anything. It was an accident, these things happen, to anyone.

 

"I do not know how long it will take, but I am determined to recover my better state."

Thanks to this positive attitude, Pedersen will surely return to international and European competition and make his dream come true.

 

Source: ETU

Photos: camilla-pedersen.com