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UNE athlete shows true grit

September 29, 2005

Skier Katie CalderUNE student Katie Calder says she is on track to qualify for the Australian 2006 Winter Olympics team, despite a training accident six weeks ago that landed her in intensive care with head injuries and a dislocated shoulder.

The 25-year-old cross-country skier was training in Switzerland with the Swiss national ski team when she crashed her mountain bike into a tree.

“I hit my head pretty hard, so I can’t remember [the accident],” Katie said, “but apparently I rode 12 km back to hospital using only one arm. And I was in a great mood, cracking jokes, etcetera.”

“I was in intensive care for a few days because of the concussion. I also managed to dislocate my right shoulder and tore a few muscles in my right hip.”

The accident left her unable to raise her right arm above her head – a condition doctors have told her may be permanent. Luckily this does not appear to be interfering with her pole motion, and despite arms that are still “pretty weak” Katie managed to pull off a gold medal at the Australian University Games, just two days after she recovered the use of her arms.

It has been a long, hard road for Katie, who has battled not only injury, but also illness in her quest to reach the top of her sport. She spends at least 22 hours per week doing cardiovascular, speed, strength, mental preparation and technique training. Her current training regime in Switzerland calls for daily running and roller-skiing (skiing on a road or bare dirt wearing skates resembling elongated Rollerblades).

“I was also doing a lot of bike riding, but I won't be getting back on a bike this year,” Katie said.

Earlier this year Katie was selected for the Australian Winter Olympics shadow team (the pool of athletes from which the final team will be selected) after claiming bronze in the 5km classic and the 10km freestyle mass start events at the Swiss Cup in Campra - the best results ever by a female Australian distance skier. She is determined to qualify for the final team, even though her recent accident left her unable to compete in this year's Australian Cross-Country Skiing Championships, where she has dominated the women's events for the past few years.

Katie has deferred her study this semester to concentrate on her Olympic preparation (she is due to complete a Bachelor of Commerce at the end of next year) and balancing study and training has not always been easy.

“When exam time comes around, all hell breaks loose,” Katie said. “My study schedule can be very inconsistent; there may be some weeks I can't study at all - especially if an event's coming up - and then I'll have to cram to make up for that.”

For Katie, who lives in the ACT so she can train year-round, UNE's distance education option has been a godsend. Without it she said study would not have been be an option.

She has been further assisted by Sport UNE's Clem Jones Sports Scholarship, worth $3000, which has helped offset her study and competition expenses.

“The scholarship makes a massive difference,” she said. “Without it study would be the first thing to go. In Europe not many athletes can do both [study and train], but I think it's important to set myself up for a future beyond sport.”

For more information contact Leon Braun (UNE Public Relations) on (02) 6773 3771.

Photograph by Studio Vogue Photography.

Posted by Leon Braun at September 29, 2005 10:30 AM