Emily Kwong
๐ค SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
And the concern for her is that over time, it prevents your body from tolerating the stress of the sled and can create exponential damage down the line.
It was for Aliyah.
She had to medically retire after just two years of competing, and she loved it.
She used to be a sailor.
She loved the speed of skeleton.
It felt very right to her, but her brain couldn't tolerate it.
She said, I loved the sport, but the sport did not love me.
And it inspired her to become a doctor.
So that's pretty cool.
Now she basically treats athletes for their sled head.
She rehabilitates them.
And she says it's totally possible if sled head is caught and taken seriously early.
Well, I think what might need to happen is culture change within the sport.
The governing bodies for the sport are aware of sled head.
There's been press coverage of it.
And in fact, the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association, last I heard, has a study that they're doing right now involving concussion and concussive-like symptoms.
That's a step in the right direction, but maybe the sport needs to change.
Peter McCarthy says we could attach sensors on the helmets.
That would allow us to know the G-force exposure of these athletes.
We've seen again and again in these Games A that athletes will happily compete injured if glory or money or fame or their lifelong dream is on the line.