Injured Anderson reaffirms love for track and field
‘I’ve fallen in love with this sport to a level I never thought possible’
Published:Friday | May 12, 2023 | 1:07 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
National 100 metres hurdles record holder Brittany Anderson has reaffirmed her love for track and field as she begins her road to recovery following a premature end to her 2023 campaign.
Anderson confirmed via social media yesterday that she will be out for the 2023 season because of a knee injury. The injury, as first reported by Radio Jamaica Sports on Wednesday, is understood to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
While Anderson did not confirm the extent of the injury, she said that she expects to make a full recovery and become a positive force for others to persevere through their challenges.
“These past few weeks have been personally challenging for me as I’ve had to deal with a significant injury to my knee. Unfortunately, I will be sitting out this season to ensure I get the best recovery possible,” Anderson said.
She added: “This setback has allowed me to re-evaluate my relationship with track and field. What I’ve found is that I’ve fallen in love with this sport to a level I never thought possible. I hope this passion can inspire those of you who I am lucky enough to have following my life and career to climb your own mountains no matter how high and how steep.”
Anderson had yet to make her 2023 outdoor season debut before this, having only competed indoors in four 60m hurdles races this season, the last of which was in February in Berlin. The setback comes after a season where she captured her first major global medal in her first World Athletics Championships appearance last year, earning silver in a wind-assisted effort of 12.23 seconds in the 100m hurdles final. During that campaign in Oregon, she also claimed the national record by clocking 12.31 in her semi-final.
Anderson said that she is encouraged by the prognosis of the medical team and is actively targeting a successful rehabilitation process.
“The good news is that I will make a full recovery. The prognosis from my medical team is nothing short of 100 per cent positive. I am working very hard to make that a reality over the coming weeks. I am truly diving into this process, learning a huge amount along the way, and am thankful for the support I have received from all corners,” Anderson said.