In this interview Laura Gavurová from Slovakia speaks out about her ACL injury from the moment it happened, the surgery, the rehabilitation, comeback… and thereafter.

Laura Gavurová was born in 2000 and is from Slovakia. Laura is goalkeeper and plays at MFK Zemplín Michalovce in Slovakia. “Finally, I had 6 knee surgeries and I would like to help people who are struggling mentally, because that is very important”

HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

“I was 17 years old, it was a free kick an as usual I would like to catch a ball first as a keeper but I landed with right foot rotated between leg opponent player. I heared a pop and my nightmare started.”

ACL TEAR 1

“I was diagnosed with an ACL tear. I never believe how serious is that injury till I have many episodes of unstable knee. I undergo reconstruction surgery and what was much harder was comeback.”

FIRST MATCH

“Many months with hardwork in gym. I felt mentally exhausted and nothing was like I wish. In 6th month I started with trainings and finally in 8th month I played my first match. It was really great feeling and I finally break my lack of confidence and fear of reinjury. ”

ACL TEAR 2

“But one year later I torn my ACL in left knee. It was mentally devastating because I know how much energy and mental resistance it will need to get back to the field.”

EASIER?

“It was little bit easier with rehab becase I know many exercises and as a student have time to spend so much time on comeback.”

ACL TEAR 3?

“Finally after 2 years I rehear my ACL in my right knee and this time it was ACL surgery with B-T-B tendon, which was new for me. So many changes in rehab, but after 8 months I played again, but not too long…”

ACL TEAR 4

“In my 4th match of the season I retear my ACL in the left knee, flap tear of the posterior horn of medial meniscus and chondral defect. That was devastating I never believed it could happen again…”

“After surgery I was non-weight bearing for 6 weeks due the microfracture surgery. Nothing goes like I want, I can’t reach full extension with weight-bearing till 8th month when the surgeon decide to do arthroscopy and they found small bone fragment under medial meniscus which causes that problem.”

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR ATHLETES WITH A SIMILAR INJURY?

“With activity I’m still in so much pain but I still enjoy sports activities.

It was harder than many people thinks, but every ACL person will know what I mean. That makes me really great and mentally resistant person.”

Follow Laura recovery journey on her Instagram Page

Text: Jeroen van de Camp, Team-ACL.com