After suffering a double hip fracture in October, Kristin Stoermer Steira (NOR) returns to the World Cup circuit, racing two of the three events in Rybinsk (RUS) this weekend.
Steira broke her hip in two places after falling during a workout on the glacier during the Norwegian National team altitude camp this fall. She continued training for several weeks after the injury before she finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed with two fractures to her pelvic bone. During the long recovery, Steira has worked systematically at returning to racing in time for the World Championships in Falun, Sweden, February 18 to March 1.
Last weekend, Steira competed in the Scandinavian Cup races in Falun, her first races for the season, and was pleasantly surprised.
“It went far better than I feared, and I felt pretty OK. Now I’m just missing the top gears,” Steira says to Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten.
Steira has been diligent with her rehabilitation, and tried to be patient, but admits that the alternative training has been tough, mentally as well as physically.
“As an elite athlete, it’s always hard to sit still so much. I’ve focused on finding alternative training methods and staying positive throughout the rehab period, and being patient enough to progress step by step. The hardest part is to understand and recognize how much and how hard you can train. But I think there almost always some way to stay active, even when you are injured. Of course, its always helpful to have a professional support staff, and I’ve had a lot of help from Olympiatoppen (the Norwegian Olympic Development Center),” Steira says.
This weekend, Steira is planning to race the 10km skate event on Friday and the 15km skiathlon on Sunday, while skipping the skate sprint on Saturday. Additionally, she will race the Norwegian national championships in Roeros the following week.
With strong performances at these events, along with the promising results from the COC in Falun last weekend, Steira might just find herself a part of the Norwegian squad to the 2015 FIS World Champioships.
“She has two opportunities prior to the World Championships: Rybinsk this weekend and the Norwegian national championships. And that we know what she is capable of in the past is never a disadvantage,” says Aage Skinstad, Norwegian National team director.
Steira has raced in six FIS World Championships and three Olympics, collecting two Olympic medals and eight World Championship medals, as well as 22 World Cup podium finishes.