Andrew Riley fighting Achilles tendon injury
MOSCOW, Russia — An Achilles tendon injury that has been plaguing to Jamaican national senior 110m hurdles champion Andrew Riley over the past two weeks has underlined the old maxim that one injury can end a career.
Riley, who advanced to the semi-finals of the event on yesterday’s second day of the 14th IAAF World Championships at the Luhzniki Stadium in Moscow, is stepping carefully, literally, as he fears his aching Achilles could rupture anytime.
The Jamaican, who is in his first full season as a professional after signing with Puma last year upon leaving the University of Illinois as the first man in the history of the NCAA Division One to win the 110m hurdles and the 100m at the same championships, added that the lack of financial resources to get the best medical treatment is also a concern.
After yesterday’s first round where he finished third in his heat to advance to today’s semi-finals, Riley said the injury that he picked up two weeks ago but wasn’t quite sure how it happened, had limited his ability to walk at times or even to sleep well at nights.
“The Achilles is very sensitive and at times I can’t even walk on it and sometimes at nights I have to sit up, still not sure why it flared up, need an assessment after the season,” he said.
His confidence is also affected and after seeing NBA superstar Kobi Bryant crumbling to the floor with a similar issue, wondered about his fate. “It makes me wonder if it will pop on me, so I just have to trust the Lord.”
While he would miss the competition, his future is not as bleak: “Good thing I have a degree I can fall back on.”
The injury, he said, had an effect on his performance yesterday. “My start wasn’t good…I can’t push that hard out of the blocks, so I have to try to play catch up, and this track is a little bit fast and with my speed I can’t get too close, and I hit some hurdles which also put me back.”
But there is little option in this World Championship year. “These are the World Championships and there is very little you can do but prepare yourself mentally and go out there and attack the hurdles.”
As a result his preparation for racing is extended, as he has to warm up much longer before he can start sprinting, and after yesterday’s race he said an ice bath and a light massage from the calf down would suffice.
But the chance of an injury so severe that his career could end in one step is ever present, he told reporters. “I don’t have money to fly to where the top doctors are to get treatment and be back in a year or so,” and while he has insurance it might not be enough.