While we await the prognosis and recovery of Olympic hopeful McKayla Maroney, I hear that Canadian diver Alexandre Despatie just suffered a possible concussion when his head hit the diving board while training in Madrid.
Bad timing. 
But he expects to be back for the Olympics.
Canadian Olympic Trampolinist Rosie MacLennan (Facebook) had a concussion some weeks ago. But is back in competition. Whew. … Rosie is awesome, by the way. (VIDEO)
We’re only just starting to understand concussion. As coaches we need do everything possible to reduce the risk of impact to the head.
3 comments ↓
I was just an average Gymnast about 52yrs ago! I had started gymnastics when I was 12yr’s and after training for three years I was in a Severe Bicycle Car accident were coming out of a Blind Driveway I was hit by a car going 65mph in a 35Zone! I jumped off my bicycle as it whent under the front right tire and whent through the windshield Head first breaking the windshield with my left arm and Head! The short story is that my family Dr. just happened to be the Head Dr. at a Big hospital in down town L.A. and he seutured my the ligaments in the elbow so that I could go back into gymnastics. I had sustained a seven inch fractured skull and concussion! Probably as bad a concussion as you can have and still be alive! The reason for telliong this story is that I after laying off for three months No physical activity! I eventually got back into gymnastics but had to learn to tumble all over again and I know I hit my head many times while going through learning to tumble again! Thanks to God I have never had any difficulty in performing gymnastics so far and I am well over 50yrs and still continue to do gymnastics for fun and fitness! Good Luck McKayla on all you do!
Here’s a nice run down of concussion from an Aussie academic website, has a football spin but lots of good basic information, trying to avoid the hype that concussion automatically = brain damage/depression
http://theconversation.edu.au/do-football-concussions-cause-depression-7508
Thanks Nik.
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