Teenager recovers from heart injury to finish 10th in 2016 Cozumel ITU Aquathlon World Championships in Mexico

GABBY Mastroianni’s doctor told her she was “lucky to be alive” after a near-fatal bike crash, but she has fought her way back to the top of triathlon.

Caroline Tang

2 min read

October 19, 2016 - 4:01PM

Mosman Daily

Junior Sports Star nominee and Balmoral Triathlon Club member Gabby Mastroianni overcame serious injury to return to triathlon. Picture: Virginia Young

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GABBY Mastroianni has fought her way back to the top after a catastrophic race crash left her with near-fatal injuries.

“The doctor told me I was lucky to even be alive,” she said.

The Balmoral Triathlon Club member, 17, is this week’s Junior Sports Star nominee.

Gabby was cycling in a 2014 triathlon race in Penrith when she was seriously injured.

“From this accident I had a heart contusion, which resulted in me being in the cardio ward for two weeks after, then having to wear a heart monitor every day for three months,” she said.

Gabby suffered serious whiplash; severe concussion; adrenal fatigue and constant dizziness; nerve damage; fractures in her ribs, sternum, right wrist and right ankle; a detached bicep; a ripped knee tendon, and third degree burns to her legs, stomach, and wrist.

“Because it was injury after injury after injury for two very long years, I was also getting more anxious and depressed with my life because I couldn’t compete or seem to overcome all the injuries,” Gabby said.

But she found the strength to recover and finished 10th in the 2016 Cozumel International Triathlon Union Aquathlon World Championships in Mexico last month.

She was also the first Australian home in her age group.

Athletes taking part in the swimming competition during the ITU World Triathlon Championships 2016 in Mexico on September 18, 2016. Picture: AFP/Elizabeth Ruiz

Gabby joined the Triathlon NSW junior development squad in 2012/13 and has also competed in state and national competitions.

But it was the extensive injuries she overcame — both physical and mental — just to make the starting line which made her achievement all the more remarkable.

Some some of the injuries from her crash were still being discovered during a long recovery process.

“It was a pretty tough mental struggle for me. I remember sitting down with mum and dad and discussing whether I even wanted to do triathlon again,” she said.

“But they told me to imagine my life in 20 years’ time and do what makes me happy and if sport is a part of it, then don’t give up.”

Gabby had an epiphany and chose “temporary pain” over “a lifetime of regret”.

“I chose to get help to overcome my anxieties and depression and chose to keep fighting and pushing harder and harder at training so I could compete at a high level again,” she said.