Olympic champion Sally Pearson 'terrified of amputation' after fall
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Updated 15/06/2015 at 15:17 GMT
Sally Pearson, the Olympic 100m hurdles champion, has said she feared that her left hand would have to be amputated after she fell at the Rome Diamond League.
Sally Pearson of Australia reacts after a race
Image credit: Reuters
Pearson suffered the damaging fall in Rome on June 4 and the impact of the blow turned her lower arm blue.
Doctors alarmingly described the injury the 28-year-old suffered as a “bone explosion” and it she had to undergo surgery on her left wrist in Italy.
But now it has been confirmed that she will require a further operation to address the injury with the Australian to miss the World Championships in Berlin in August as a result.
The hurdler, who took gold at London 2012, fell heavily and awkwardly after striking the fifth hurdle of the race in Rome and has spoken of her fear of how the injury will impact her life.
"I was terrified seeing my hand going in a different direction," she told the BBC.
"I thought they would have to amputate.
The reaction from fans to the photos was of shock and sympathy.
"I've never broken a bone, I've never had stitches or surgery before," she added.
"Doing all of that in one, in a different country, was very traumatic.
"But I do put things into perspective and think I am very lucky with what happened.
“If it had been the ankle, it would be a completely different story."
Regarding the blow of having to miss the World Championships, Pearson was level-headed about the break it would afford her from the sport and the chance to refocus ahead of the Olympics in Rio.
"It's very disappointing but this will be a very good mental and physical break leading into the Olympics next year,” she said.
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