Despite injury, competitive spirit still strong for Whitney Mcclintock
FLASHBACK: Grand featured Whitney McClintock in May 2012, celebrating the competitive prowess of Whitney and her brother Jason as members of Canada’s elite national water ski team. The pair grew up on the shores of Puslinch Lake, but currently train in Florida.
Since then, Whitney has been through a frightening setback — and an exhilarating comeback.
Grand editor Kathy Storring caught up with Whitney for an email interview:
Question: Let’s start with the bad news, Whitney. You were injured last fall. Can you tell us what went wrong that day and what the injury was?
Answer: It was the semi-final round of a pro event in Orlando, Fla., called Soaked, and I wanted to get that top position going into the final. So I tried to hold on to too much slack in the rope and it pulled me out the front. I hyper-extended my left knee in the process. Luckily, I avoided surgery by not tearing any ligaments and just ended up with a minor fracture to the medial tibial plateau. I had four weeks on crutches and two more weeks of rehab before I was back on the water training for Indonesia.
Question: As a professional athlete, that must have been terrifying. What was your initial reaction — or were you too focused on the actual pain?
Answer: Typically, the pain is secondary to me and my primary reaction is crying because I know I need to take time off to recover. I am a competitor. And when I can’t train and compete, my world turns upside down.
Question: I know you are in top shape, but I’m betting recovery was still arduous. What kinds of therapy were involved? Were you out of the water most of the time?
Answer: Rehab for a broken bone is just a matter of trying to get the lost muscle back. I am really focused in the gym and this winter I pushed myself really hard to get as strong as I could.
Unfortunately, I was not focused enough on balancing out my weaker side, and it caused more troubles this spring with my back hurting. I am finally without pain and ready for a great season.
Question: According to your blog, you were determined to compete eight weeks after the injury and headed off to Indonesia. You also say the 40-hour trip home was torturous. I can’t imagine.
As you look back on that period – especially with happier times since then – what do you think was going on? Does it say something about your personal determination or is it just part of the athlete’s psyche to never give up?
Answer: I wanted to prove that nothing was going to hold me back from being successful that season.
However, two weeks of skiing was not enough time on the water to be strong enough to compete. I didn’t even make it through to the finals in Indonesia. It was a very frustrating and humbling trip overall.
It helped me realize that I need to be patient and focus on the long-term goals of my career rather than going to every event just to prove I can.
Question: Now, let’s move quickly ahead to good news. You won the slalom and overall for Canada at the Moomba Masters International Invitational in Australia in March. That must have been such a thrill. And you were on the cover of Waterski magazine. Do you feel you are back on track or is there still a lot of work ahead?
Answer: I went over to Australia with goals to accomplish with my skiing, and I was very happy to come through with a back-to-back win in slalom and overall at Moomba. The weather was so beautiful while we were there, which made for a great competition.
What a wonderful surprise to be the covergirl of the industry magazine for the May issue. And I also am on the cover of the May issue of the Australian Waterski Magazine.
This season is starting off very well; and I have been working hard to get to the competitive level I need to achieve in order to have a great summer. Question: What’s the next goal? Answer: This summer I am going back to basics. I am going to focus on myself and my skiing. I will set mini goals for each event that will hopefully lead to some more wins this season. This year is a Worlds year so I will be working hard to be a world champion again.
Question: And, finally, what is your brother Jason up to these days?
Answer: Jason got married in October so he is a happy newly-wed. He and Jaime recently bought a house in Orlando on a beautiful lake. Jason’s happiness in his personal life is really reflected in his professional career. He is skiing better than ever as the 2013 season begins.