Skier Heals Back Injury

"This injury has allowed me to realize what it takes for me to achieve my goals." – Thomas Grandi

Thomas Grandi was a skier with world-class dreams. He had already represented Canada in the 1994 and 1998 Winter Games, and was the first Canadian to win a medal in the World Cup Giant Slalom. Unfortunately, during a World Cup competition in Germany, Thomas hit a hole on a run and injured his back. To begin with, he wasn’t especially worried. He recalls, "as a ski racer you deal with aches and pains all the time and I thought it was just going to be one of those things that comes and goes." However, this injury didn’t go away. Even after Thomas took six weeks off from skiing, his injury continued to bother him.

The new ski season was approaching, and Thomas worried that he had been losing ground. He says, "I got back into training and I would re-aggravate it as I went . . . I was looking for a miracle cure at that point. I wanted my pain to go away." Thomas was so desperate that he tried cortisone injections, knowing that these strong pain-killer injections did little to solve his underlying problem. He began to consider giving up his skiing career. He says, "there were definitely times when I had thought of retirement, thoughts of moving on to something different."

Just as he began seriously considering retirement, one of Thomas’ teammates suggested that he meet with Shane McDermott. Shane is a Corrective High-Performance Exercise Kinesiologist, one of only a few in the world. He helps athletes through their rehabilitation based on what he calls the triad of health. Shane explains, "the triad of health consists of three different components: an emotional limbic, endocrine hormonal, and a physical component." True rehabilitation occurs only when all of these conditions are satisfied. Shane began his work with Thomas by conducting a thorough assessment of his level of injury, flexibility, stamina, power, and strength. His recommendations included specially-designed workouts using free weights, cables, and Swedish medicine balls.

In addition to the physical aspects of his rehabilitation, Thomas concentrated on the mental aspects. He consulted with performance coach Richard Monette to define his goals, and to determine the mental and emotional strategies he needed to reach his goals. Thomas enjoyed working with Richard. He explains, "Richard helps in a way that he keeps me grounded in my day-to-day activities. He really clarifies what is important to me." Thomas began to use meditation to relax and focus on getting back "on snow." In tune with his body, mind and soul, his injury began to fade into the background. Today Thomas no longer uses pain killers to treat his injuries. He has moved back into competition and focuses clearly on his goals. He says, "this injury has allowed me to realize what it takes for me to achieve my goals. One of the biggest things is self-responsibility, certain things are provided for me but others I have to seek out myself."

Thomas began to use meditation to relax and focus his body, mind and soul.