ATHLETE INTERVIEWS

Jordi Newman

Jordi Newman considers herself a "has-been" these days, but she was previously a Division 1 Athlete in college, prior to tearing her ACL four times (an XCLevation record!). Now, she's a mom and successful small business owner of ZsaZsa & Daphne's.

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1) Can you share your ACL story? 

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My ACL story is so long. I tore my right acl and meniscus in 2005 (my freshman year of high school) and had it repaired with a patella tendon graft. I was back on the field in 3.5 months and have not had any issues since. In 2009, during a soccer game against the university of Arkansas, I tore my left ACL, MCL, LCL, meniscus, and fractured my tibia. I had surgery to fix all of those issues and was back playing around 4-5 months. Fast forward to playing soccer again in 2011, tore my left ACL again. Fixed with a hamstring graft. I decided to quit playing soccer this time but still continued to workout and be active. So here we are in 2018, I was coaching soccer and maybe I was showing off to some 8 year old kids when I tore my ACL and meniscus AGAIN. It’s been about 5 months and I’ve been crossfitting since about the 3rd month.

 

2) What was the hardest part of the experience?

The hardest part for me, honestly, is gaining weight during the whole process. Each time, I would eat my heart out (literally) and gain 25-30 lbs every time!

3) How did you stay motivated throughout the process? 

I stayed motivated by always wanting to come back just as strong (and fit) as I was before and as quickly as before. I obviously probably push myself too hard but I know my body pretty well and I know what it can handle.

4) What advice would you give to other athletes on the road to recovery?

My advice is to push yourself and trust your body. Don’t be afraid to push the limits a little bit because chances are, you can handle it. That being said, don’t push too hard and be aware of what you’re feeling.

5) Do you think this experience changed you as a person?

Definitely. I thought I was invincible but now I think about body mechanics more than I ever would have before. When I’m working out, I pay attention to form. When I’m jumping with my toddler, I pay attention to the way my knees bend AND HIS. I just study the body and am more interested in it’s workings than I probably would have been.