To Compete or Not to Compete?

To compete or not to compete?

To compete or not to compete? Deciding whether to return to competition after an injury.

Every athlete understands the frustration that comes with an injury right before a major competition or during a crucial race at the end of the season. This period can be particularly challenging, as accumulated fatigue from the season sets in and the mental pressure to perform intensifies.

The question starts rising in the mind of the athlete: to compete or not to compete?

The upcoming Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo this winter have brought this decision into sharp focus, highlighted by the injury of Lindsey Vonn, but also by the victories of two gold medals by Federica Brignone.

There is no single answer that fits everyone. Each situation is unique, and the decision cannot be reduced to a simple yes or no. Instead, it requires a shared process: the athlete and the medical team working together, weighing risks, readiness, and long-term health, to arrive at the safest and most informed choice.

Since summer I started working with Gosia Sniegorska, a snowboard rider on the FWTChallenger series.

Gosia on the podium of the FWTChallenger series

Gosia called me in tears after her crash in the FWT Challengers series in Obertauern. She still managed to reach the finish line and score the 4th best run of the day, but she crashed and in that crash, she fractured her sacrum (imagine the pain she must have felt).

Gosia in pain at the end of her run

Gosia now stands in 4th place overall, with all the cards in her hands to fight for a final spot on the Freeride World Tour.

Of course, she asks me: should I compete, or should I say my season is over?

And I can feel everything behind that question: the frustration, the fear, the regret, the anger.

This is a risky sport, she knows it. But when you’ve trained all summer and winter for this, you’re not ready to say it’s over until you’ve truly tried everything.

The decision is never on the athlete alone. Every athlete needs a strong network of people who share the weight of that decision. That’s when we decided to ask for a consult with Michele Nardi, orthopaedic and trauma surgeon. He looked at the X-rays and clearly explained to Gosia the risks of racing with a fractured sacrum, risks we felt confident taking, as they wouldn’t compromise her health or her future career.

Still, a green light from the doctor is not enough to feel confident at the start line.

Readiness to compete is not only physical, it is, most of all, mental. Is the athlete confident in their body? Are they psychologically ready to compete?

Gosia had the final say, but as her physiotherapist, I guided her toward what felt right for her as an athlete. After consulting Michele, I was confident in allowing her to compete, but she had to show me she was mentally ready.

She chose a safer line, with no drops, since landing was triggering pain in the injured area, while riding itself was not. Alongside that, she had to work on accepting that the injury was there, but it was not limiting her riding. That’s where we empowered her system.

For an athlete, the scariest thing is not trusting that their body can hold up. And there is no way an athlete should step onto the start line without that belief.

I was so happy to hear Gosia’s voice on Wednesday before her competition on thetechnical face of Monterosa for the FWT Challenger Series. She felt confident, determined, tactical and free of pressure of performing.

So often, pressure inhibits performance. And sometimes, injuries come almost like a gift: they erase expectations and allow the athlete to perform without the fear of losing, disappointing, or not being good enough.

I watched Gosia’s run with my heart beating so fast, but I trusted her readiness. She landed on a rock and fell on her back again and nothing serious happened. She finished her run in 6th place, still holding onto her 4th place overall. She told me now she's confident on go riding the last comp of the season.

Gosia performing

Keep pushing, girl. You’ve got this.