By Makenzie Miller, Swimming World College Intern
Lauren James was excited to be entering the world of college swimming and determined to meet her next goal of making the Junior National Team last fall. Then she was confronted by a swimmer’s worst nightmare…the debilitating pain of an injury.
The new Lady Cardinal was looking forward to her first year of swimming at the University of Louisville.
“I thought I was going to do amazing, even as a freshman. I wasn’t afraid to have my new coaches try to improve my strokes.”
James, my long-time friend and age-group competitor, has been swimming since age four. She continually sets goals for herself and she continually meets them. She made the cut for Junior Nationals at age 14, Olympic Trials at the age of 15, and World Championship Trials at age 16.
Not Your Typical Swim Injury
Just a few weeks into her freshman year, the pain from a previous injury became unbearable. Early in 2013, she tore her triangular fibrocartilage complex in her right wrist during dryland doing pushups on kettlebells. James underwent a series of steroid injections and arthroscopic surgery to repair the tear, but the pain never went away.
“My wrist hurt constantly and was worse when I would swim or write or type for long periods,” said James.
After discussions with the team doctor and several orthopedic surgeons, James opted for the surgery in mid-October of 2014 instead of waiting until the end of the swim season. Using another tendon from the same wrist, the surgeon repaired the torn ligament. She now has four screws in her arm.
Before the decision for surgery, James worried. “Will the surgery work? Will I have pain all my life? Will I ever swim again? Will I ever get faster? Will my coaches and my teammates be mad?”
Photo Courtesy: Lauren James
The Challenges of Being Sidelined
As a redshirt freshman, James says not being able to swim for five months was harder than she ever thought. Constrained by a cast from November to January, she had to sit and watch her new friends go to meets and training trips without her.
“Because I was no longer swimming, I felt like I didn’t belong. I felt invisible,” James said.
Being out of the water this past year also meant giving up her dream to make the Junior National Team in the 200 breaststroke. In the 2013 World Championship trials, she came in 20th, just missing out by a few swimmers. Since she turns 19 in November, this year was her last chance to achieve that goal.
“I think I am the only swimmer I know who does not swim faster tapered, so I rely on regular season meets to get best times,” James said. “Having missed most of my meets this season, I knew it would probably not happen.”
For James, who is double majoring in biology and criminal justice, school was even more challenging. Being right-handed, she couldn’t write so had to rely on classmates for notes. She learned sign language using only her left hand.
Not her First Setback
Photo Courtesy: Nina Hasemanngain
In early 2012, she began to experience headaches and dizziness. The harder she trained, the worse it got. One day, she simply was unable to finish practice. An MRI showed a cyst on her brain and she was prescribed several medications. None of them helped.
After more tests, James was diagnosed and treated for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). James’ condition kept her out of the water for several months that year, but the determined swimmer took her spot in the 200-meter backstroke at Olympic Trials.
“I went to Trials after only being back in the water for a few weeks. I was just happy to go,” James said.
Prior to joining her college dream team in Kentucky, James swam under Coach Erik Posegay at the prestigious North Baltimore Aquatics Club in Maryland, where Olympians Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt train.
James holds the 17-18 Maryland state record in the 200-yard breaststroke. She also still holds records at her first swim club, the Monocacy Aquatic Club in Frederick, MD.
Back in the Water Again
James is still recovering from her hand surgery, but has been back in the water since March.
“It’s been a slow process. I have not been able to regain my endurance as of yet,” James said. “My right arm still is not as strong as the other and my wrist is not 100 percent. There is a lot more to do to get back in shape. ”
She participated in her first meet this year at the Charlotte Arena Pro Swim in May.
Despite being off her best times, James was invigorated by the meet.
“Afterward, my arm felt like Jell-O, but the meet itself was amazing,” she said. “I forgot how much I love to race. It was the first time I can remember that I did not swim at finals, and I wondered if I will ever get back to where I was before.”
James remains positive.
“I know athletes that have had far worse injuries than what I had and after they healed, they were able to get back to their pre-injury level of competitiveness and better. I’ll get there.”
I have no doubt about it. Lauren James is on her way back.