Nutri-Grain ironman series gun Jy Timperley vows to return from shocking injury

This young Nutri-Grain ironman has described a shocking injury sidelining him for the entire surf season as “bizarre and gross’’ but has vowed he will be back to race again.

Amanda Lulham

@amandalulham

2 min read

January 10, 2023 - 12:36PM

NewsLocal

Jy Timperley has been in the wars with a shocking ankle injury.

Local Sport

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Ironman Jy Timperley should have been preparing to take on the best ironmen in the country at Maroubra this weekend but is instead preparing for a couple more bouts of surgery, for some bone and cartilage to grow in a lab and to have his injured ankle rebroken and fixed.

Since breaking a bone in his foot after slipping on a lifeguard ladder last year, Timperley has struggled with an injury which has now ruled him out for the remainder of the surf life saving season and the Nutri-Grain series he was tipped to be a dominant force in this year.

“It’s all quite unbelievable to be honest,’’ said the 23-year-old from the Gold Coast who is back lifeguarding but not racing or training.

“It’s pretty bizarre and gross. It’s apparently a pretty rare thing. ’’

Timperley said he slipped and landed awkwardly on the ladder, breaking the bone on the top of his foot.

A few weeks later he underwent surgery to repair the damage.

Ironman Jy Timperley. Pic: Supplied

“They put a dissolving pin in which is supposed to leave like a pin sized hole but my bone also dissolved,’’ Timperley said.

“In the bone that runs into your ankle there’s this gapping hole about 1cm to 2-3cm. It’s right in the middle of my joint.’’

Now moving with a limp and told he cannot run, Timperley is preparing for a procedure where a scrapping of bone and cartilage will be taken so it can be grown into a “plug’’ in a laboratory.

Jy Timperley has been in the wars with a shocking ankle injury.

“They grow it into the same size out of bone and cartilage. The whole idea is your body won’t reject it.

“The second procedure is breaking my ankle and putting in the plug.’’

Timperley said he has gone from wondering if the would ever be race at an elite level again to vowing to be back on the sand in full strength by next Nutri-Grain series.

“I will be back 100 per cent for next season, doing the ironman trials and hoping to get back on the series,’’ he said.