5 Ultimate Injury Comebacks — From Milk To The Magic Sponge
After rugby’s Joe Marler recovered from a broken leg in record time to line up for England in the 2017 Six Nations, we look at the most epic injury comebacks and their miracle cures
Injuries can strike at any moment, regardless of how active you are. You might survive a week of cycling commutes and CrossFit workouts, only to wake up with back spasms after a rough night’s sleep. Rest and recuperation are usually the key remedies — along with good nutrition — but if you’re a professional sportsman or woman, when disaster strikes it’s often a race against time to repair the damage. Desperate times call for desperate measures — sometimes even two pints of full-fat milk.
When disaster strikes it’s often a race against time to repair the damage.
Further reading: Let’s Drink To Your Muscle Health
1 Joe Marler — rugby union
England rugby’s maverick prop was rechristened “The Milkman” for the 2017 Six Nations after an astonishing comeback from a broken leg. With just three weeks to recover from a stress fracture in his shin bone, the front row forward was put on a liberal diet of full-fat milk. “I always thought green top [milk] was good for you because it’s reduced fat but [England’s physios] gave me licence to have blue top and the odd day I’d have that gold top stuff, the one with like 1,000 calories,” Marler revealed, pointing to the high calcium and protein content of the white stuff.
Miraculously his newly reformed tibia survived the ultimate scrutiny as he packed down against the gargantuan French tighthead Uini Atonio (nearly 40kg heavier) and England edged a narrow victory at Twickenham.
Magic sponge solution: A daily dose of quality protein and calcium.
2 Paula Radcliffe — athletics
Marathon running is heroic enough without the burden of bunions, foot injuries, and childbirth. MBE, three-time London Marathon winner and world record holder Radcliffe navigated all these potholes to mark a stunning comeback at the New York Marathon in 2007.
Further reading: A Whey Protein Shake A Day Can Keep The Doctor Away
The 34-year-old wasn’t expected to challenge the world-class field, having recently contended with muscle and tendon issues in her foot and an agonising 27 hours in labour for the birth of her daughter Isla just 10 months previously. Yet jaws and confetti hit the floor as Radcliffe surged past the field to finish in 2 hours 23 minutes and win the race, earning the Laureus World Sports Comeback of the Year award in the process.
Magic sponge solution: A high protein and carb drink post run to refuel fatigued muscles.
Marathon running is heroic enough without the burden of bunions, foot injuries, and childbirth.
3 Rafael Nadal — tennis
The 14-time Grand Slam-winning Spaniard is renowned for his elastic, muscle straining mobility around the baseline. But as a consequence he’s endured near-constant tendonitis in his knees and even stem cell surgery on his back.
At the start of 2013 he’d barely picked up a racket for seven months but surprised opponents and pundits alike with a miraculous renaissance over the next 12 months. He ended the calendar year having played 82 singles matches with a winning record of 91%, claiming the French and US Opens, reclaiming his world No1 ranking and scooping almost £10m in richly-deserved prize money.
Magic sponge solution: An indomitable spirit, high pain threshold and a patella tendon strap for his rickety knees.
4 Tiger Woods — golf
Having soared to fame with eagles, birdies and a stunning debut US Masters victory in 1997, it’s easy to forget the injury bunkers the 14-time Major winner has had to dig himself out of. During a cumulative 545 weeks as the world No1 he recovered from back surgery, back spasms, a double stress fracture of his left tibia and an anterior cruciate ligament rupture.
Magic sponge solution: Pioneering functional weight training that now sets the standards for the likes of Rory McIlroy and Co.
Further reading: Whey: What Is It Good For?
5 Hermann Maier — skiing
Nicknamed “The Herminator”, this Austrian skiing giant has won the lot on the slopes. But a near-fatal motorcycle collision in 2001 left him severely debilitated and facing the possible amputation of his right leg. In hospital he lost 18kg of muscle mass but extensive reconstructive surgery saved the limb and gradually he regained the ability to walk, then run, then ski. Just 521 days later Maier sealed the World Cup super giant slalom in Kitzbühel. His quest back to skiing supremacy was, and still is, an unprecedented muscular miracle.
Magic sponge solution: Training smarter by monitoring blood lactate to ensure he wasn’t overtraining his recovering muscles.
Words by Nick Manser
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