Francis on the road to recovery
GYMNAST DANUSIA Francis is on the road to recovery from a debilitating knee injury that compromised her performance at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, in July. Surgery has repaired the damage and Francis faces a month on crutches with rehabilitation work to follow. She hopes she will be able to compete for Jamaica at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Speaking a week after surgery on September 18, Francis was cheerful.
“I’m feeling alright, obviously in a bit of pain and it’s a bit frustrating to not be able to do very much but, you know, I had the best surgeon,” she said. “He’s done an amazing job and I know that this is the first step to a proper recovery.”
The knee injury occurred during her final preparations for Tokyo but Francis wouldn’t back down. She withdrew from competition in the balance beam, the vault and the floor exercise. However, with a bandaged left knee, she did a truncated version of her full uneven bars routine.
AFFECTED AREAS REPAIRED
“The surgery repaired the affected meniscus and the related anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and reinforced the area, and also my ACL,” she said.
Now the 27-year-old is on the long run back to full fitness.
“I don’t really have a prognosis just yet,” she said. “I’ve got four weeks on crutches and then I can start my rehab and take it from there. Every person’s different with their recovery so, I’m looking forward to getting past the first four weeks and to be a tiny bit more active again.”
Born in Coventry, England, Francis is hoping to perform for Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games which will be held next year in nearby Birmingham from July 28 to August 8.
“The 2022 Commonwealth Games is definitely in my sights but I’m definitely putting my knee as my main priority as my knee has to last me the rest of my life. So I won’t be rushing anything but if I can make it back to represent Jamaica at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, then you know I will be there,” she promised.
Jamaica Gymnastics Association President Nicole Grant-Brown has high praise for the fortitude Francis showed in Tokyo.
“She was very diligent in ensuring that Jamaica was represented and she competed at one event doing part of her routine which was good, seeing that Jamaica got highlighted, at the same time, achieving her goal of being an Olympian,” Grant-Brown said. “We were very happy with that and we’re proud of her for her resilience and her determination.”
Grant-Brown says that Francis’ Olympic cameo has boosted local interest in gymnastics.
“A number of youngsters were able to watch the Olympic Games and they are super excited,” she said. “Support is really taking a boost from this and we’re super happy about that.”