Lush on the way back for Volvo Ocean Race Leg 4
by Team Brunel 22 Jan 2018 18:55 GMT
Annie Lush sailing on Team Brunel at the start of Volvo Ocean Race Leg Leg 3 © Ugo Fonolla / Volvo Ocean Race
British sailor Annie Lush, who faced an injury in Leg 3, is on the way back. Lush comes to Hong Kong to join Team Brunel again. Lush who had broken two bones in her foot and one in her back last December is still recovering. The expectation is that after an intensive recovery program in Hong Kong she will be ready in time to join the team for Leg 6 to Auckland.
Recovery in Australia and New Zealand
After arriving in Melbourne on December 25th Lush stayed another week in Australia. In the first week of January Lush flew over to New Zealand for the next stage of her recovery. A more than 24 hour flight back to Europe was to intensive on that point of time. Last Friday, Lush consulted one of the top sports physicians and physiotherapists in New Zealand. After a second set of scans it turned out that the fractures are recovering well and Annie will be strong enough to race on when the leg to Auckland starts in two weeks time from Hong Kong.
In order to give the bones some more recovery time, Lush probably will not be at the boat during all the activities before the leg start. Lush will be working with team physiotherapist Ricardo Meijer in the gym and swimming pool to get strong again and finish her recovery.
Lush excited about comeback
Lush: "I'm really excited to get the result last week that the recovery has gone well and so I can join the team for the next leg. It's been a nervous week waiting for the scan results. Next to that I was also watching the team and shouting at the tracker, willing them into Hong Kong. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the team, and hearing what we can learn from this leg, to get the result we're aiming for in the next one!"
Physiotherapist Meijer confident about recovery
Meijer: "During the last few weeks I've been in contact with Annie and the team of professionals helping her in New Zealand. In this last stage of her recovery I will work closely with Annie and the rest of our team from the Bergman Clinics to get her fully prepared for the next Leg. Her back looks good but the bones in her foot will still need some time to recover. Annie her program will be way more intensive than that from the rest of the crew. They are focusing on recuperation while she really has to recover. That's another approach but I'm confident she will be ready on time."