What injuries have you had?

[Hazel]

Because of gymnastics.

[Ryan]

haha i was possibly the clumsiest gymnast ever born.

I have broken 8 fingers, my big toe twice, fractured my lower leg, cracked a rib, martially dislocated my knee, partially dislocated my ankle, sliced my knee to the bone on a trampoline spring, had hyperextension injuries on my elbow and knee. They are the minor injuries.

The majors: i ruptured a disc in my spine when i was 17- i am now 23 and my back is sore 24/7. Great future ahead! I also dislocated my shoulder on rings- it popped itself back into joint, but dragged a bunch of tendons and nerves with it. I have partial loss of feeling at points along my arm/fingers/shoulder, and have permanent loss of mobility. I also have cartlidge and tendon damage in my knee, so if i sit still with my legs crossed or bent for too long, when i stand up i basically fall back down again!

Great list hey! Now heres a funnier one- i have also damaged thousands of dollars of gym gear:

1) broke 3 air boards and 1 springboard
2) broke a horizontal bar (the mens metal one)- when i was mid skill (endo i think) the tightening fastener on the side sheared, and one side of the bar fell down!
3) snapped a parallel bar completely in half (double back dismount that did not travel sideways at all haha!).
4) broken 2 rings

and i think thats it. Interesting hey! I sure used my insurance cover well!

[Hazel]

On what level of gymnastics were you when you quit?

[Ryan]

I was working towards level 8 national championships.

[pintobeamer]

I was 14, and working double fronts off beam into the pit. I was actually getting pretty good at them, and we decided to put a mat down and try to land them. I over-rotated a timer and landed on my head on the mat. I ended up pulling and/or tearing every muscle or ligament in my neck, shoulders, and upper back and compressed my spine. They thought for a while that I may have fractured something because I initially stood up, but then my whole body went tingly and I collapsed and couldn't feel much. But they said it was just the swelling. I was out for about 6 months, and was never really able to do front tumbling or anything again. I won't even dive off a diving board... there's just a block in my brain.

A related injury... the spine compression turned into a retrolithesis... which is when your vertebrae slide backward. 3 of my vertebrae in my lower back got all out of whack... and the cartilige between them started deteriorating because of the movement. It still bothers me, and I have to visit the chiropractor quite often.

I've also gotten stress fractures in my back... from... well...stress.

I've also broken all my fingers and toes numerous times. Hyperextended my knees. Tore the plantar fascia in my right foot, and tore the ligaments in my right foot and ankle, and blew out my right knee twice...

Erm... I've probably had more, I was quite accident prone... and seemed to be on crutches more often than not.

[Hazel]

On what level were you when you quit?

[Ori]

I had a carpal tunnel syndrome (both wrists) and problems with my legs and toes, (1987/88).