Stacy Sykora Staying on Course for Recovery A er 36 days of in-pa ent hospital care, Stacy Sykora made an emo onal return to her teammates just hours following her release from the hospital a er recovering from serious injuries sustained in a bus accident in Brazil on April 12. On her first day out of the hospital on May 19, Sykora went to what is familiar to her – the American Sports Centers where the U.S. Women’s Na onal Team trains in Anaheim, Calif. Sykora (Burleson, Texas), the Best Libero at the 2010 FIVB World Volleyball Championship and a three- me U.S. Olympic Volleyball Team member, con nues her rehabilita on a er in-pa ent hospital care in both Brazil and the United States. “To come here this morning and see my teammates – they are my family, they are my sisters, they are the people that I love to death,” Sykora said of returning to the gym for the first me. “To come back to my family and my life and everything that I have Courtesy of FIVB ever known has been amazing. When you have a serious injury like this, everything means more to you than back in the day. This means so much to me. It is incredible how great it has been today. I can’t even tell how great it was. It was like I was on a number 10 of 10 of an emo onal happiness high today.” The bus accident occurred in rainy condi ons as her Brazilian professional volleyball club Volei Futuro was traveling to the gymnasium to compete in the first match of the best-of-three semifinal round Superliga playoff. Based on reports, the bus pped onto its side a er hi ng a guardrail separa ng the highway and an off-ramp. Sykora was the most seriously injured person traveling in the bus. “I do not remember the accident,” Sykora said. “Luckily, there were only very few of us actually injured in the accident, and unfortunately I was the worst. I had hit my head that resulted in a cut on my forehead as well as an internal injury. I would like to keep the specifics of my injuries private, but am happy to share that I am expected to recover fully. This has been a scary situa on, but also an event in my life that I have learned a lot from.” Yet, for the iconic member of the U.S. Women’s Na onal Team, Sykora is taking her con nued rehabilita on one step at a me. “We are not going to rush it,” Sykora said. “I am spending three days a week at the hospital working on specific brain injury deficit, such as minor issues I am having with my vision, cogni ve memory and so on. The other days of the week I am with my team in Anaheim and working with the sports medicine staff here. Allin-all, I am ge ng the gamete of therapy and can tell it is helping
every day! I remain pa ent and op mis c, but as you can imagine as an Olympian, it is hard to be pa ent and away from the sport that you love so much.” Under the care of U.S. Women’s Na onal Team physician Dr. Chris Koutures and Na onal Team Athle c Trainer Jill Wosmek, Sykora’s rehab plan will seek to get her back into shape in more ways than one. “The en re medical staff has been awed by Stacy’s hard work and tremendous progress - it is inspiring to talk with her and see how passionate she is about her recovery,” Dr. Koutures said. Sykora, who was released from her Brazilian hospital on May 7 to return to the United States, had been con nuing her remarkable recovery at Casa Colina in Pomona, Calif. Sykora thinks she can possibly come back even stronger. “If you ask me, I am going to be be er,” Sykora said. “I might not be great physically, you never know. I am saying I am going to be be er because mentally I feel stronger. For me I have pictures and memories right now that make me remember every single day to take advantage of this day. This day is so important. It could be your last day to ever play again. I love volleyball so much. It is the only thing that I have done. When I got here in 1999, I have been here. It is the one thing I know and love and give everything for. I love the people on the team.” Sykora received an out-pouring of well-wishes from not only her teammates and fans in the United States, but volleyball enthusiasts across the globe. “It is absolutely incredible,” Sykora said about the worldwide support sent to her during her recovery. “I can’t even describe the happiness. It has made me feel so wonderful inside to know that so many people actually care about me.” Sykora was able to travel back to her hometown of Burleson, Texas, in mid-June to see her family and friends. As for her future, volleyball remains in the picture. “If you ask me to be a realist, I am going to do all I can, but if I can’t play again, it is what is supposed to happen. That is something I can’t help or change. That would be a sad day,” Sykora said. “I want to play for this USA Team. I don’t want to think of my future other than that un l I have to. I really feel like I am going to give 100 percent every day to come back. I am going to work my tail off every day in prac ce.” Story by Bill Kauffman, USA Volleyball associate director of communica ons
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