In August, USA Nordic athlete Stephen Schumann sustained an injury while ski jumping in Park City, Utah which resulted in a torn ACL, bucket handle tear on his meniscus, and a second-degree sprain on the MCL and LCL.
Schumann, a nordic combined national team member, is now almost three months out of surgery and progressing well. While he won’t be traveling with the team this winter, Schumann is certainly staying busy. He attends physical therapy twice a week, works out at the gym three times a week, spins on the bike or double poles on the rollerski treadmill six days a week, and attends classes at the University of Utah twice a week. He also works part-time at one of the local bike shops in Park City.
He recently has been cleared to run at full body weight and jump up onto small boxes and back off, an obvious step towards returning to ski jumping. Schumann is a couple weeks ahead of a normal ACL recovery schedule. “Getting cleared to do more stuff helps a lot mentally.” It’s an adjustment for Schumann not being on the road as winter is starting. “Usually my suitcase just sits on the floor of my bedroom and I live out of that when I’m home. Now I actually live at home.”
Schumann is targeting a return to cross country racing in March and a return to jumping in May. “This will give me something to look forward to at the end of this season,” he says.
He will follow the steps, celebrate small milestones, and eventually be back – stronger than before.
