Back stronger than ever

Hockey

Susannah Townsend says her ninemonth injury nightmare will be the making of her as she sets her sights on more Olympic glory.

The 27-year-old Canterbury star went from the euphoria of claiming an historic and dramatic gold medal in Rio last August to undergoing surgery on her knee cartilage in early October.

However, after a winter of lonely recovery and dedicated rehabilitation, the midfielder was back in action at the end of May, returning to elite hockey after facing Argentina and the Netherlands in front of a packed house at Lee Valley.

Townsend and the GB medical staff managed her injury through the Olympics but it flared up in just her third game for Belgian side La Gantoise, leading to surgery in London.

Townsend – who has opted to return to home club Canterbury Ladies in the Investec National Premier Division next season – said: “Before Rio we made the decision to manage it and we did a great job. With how Rio went and winning gold, when I did require surgery it was a lot easier to take.

“I was petrified at the thought of the rehab. I’m the sort of person who never sits down but I had two months of my knee being in a CPM (continuous passive motion) machine for eight hours a day – that is your life.

“I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. But I was told if I didn’t do it I wouldn’t play international hockey again, so I had to.”

Townsend admitted the impact on her was as much psychological as physical, adding: “When you are injured you spend an awful lot of time by yourself but I’d turn down invitations to events as I knew it would affect my rehab. It’s not a difficult decison to make if your career is at stake.

“I’m incredibly vain and I could see myself, sat there every day, getting fatter and fatter. It was just something I had to accept.

“I only had three really bad days. go through that but I have learned a lot about myself. (GB coach) Danny Kerry says it will be the making of me and I definitely feel it has been and will be.”

Townsend admits she will have to manage her playing workload between now and Tokyo 2020 as her knee will never fully recover.

She said: “The analogy I use to explain it is like taking a divot in golf. I had a hole in my cartilage and like a divot you can replace the grass but it’ll never be the same.

“With an injury like this, I’ll have to be monitored all the time. I’ll have testing when the other girls aren’t in. It’ll never be completely secure again but it feels strong right now. I just have to keep my quad muscles strong to protect it.”

Townsend teed-up a goal for Sophie Bray against the Netherlands and said: “It was one of my best memories. Winning gold was incredible but pulling on that shirt again and being out there, it’s right up there.

“It’s just amazing to be able to pick up a stick and go out there and play with my mates. Doing it in front of 5,000 fans all supporting you – it doesn’t get much better than that.”

She added: “I wouldn’t have been there without the amazing support I’ve had from everyone around me.

“My first game back in Madrid I had some time to reflect by myself on all the people who had helped me to get back.

“When we walked out, I got quite emotional and hugged and thanked our physio who has done so much for me.”