My son's career was much like Taylor's he suffered an injury his senior year in high school at sectionals and couldn't compete at state. he suffered injuries in almost every year at college, but still competed.
By all accounts, he should have ended his college career after his last knee and ankle injury. But he wanted one last competition. So he competed at the Conference Championship meet as basically his only outdoor competition this year. After finishing third last year, he finished 6th. He wore shoes without spikes . His jumping events (high jump, hurdles, pole vault, & long jump) all suffered because of his lack of ability to push off.
But rather than using his injury as an excuse for not performing well or up to his own personal standards, he maintained the attitude of look what I can do while being injured.
And what did he receive for all his efforts? No championship trophy or ribbons. Rather, he received a college degree, several letters of recommendation, a published newspaper interview, acceptance into grad school, a personal graduation ceremony with other athletes with the SIU chancellor, and an offer to be an SIU assistant track coach for next year. That's a pretty good haul for a kid from a small town Illinois high school.
