Young Commonwealth Games hopeful’s dreams on track thanks to Royal Children’s Hospital
Last year a mysterious knee injury brought a young Patterson Lakes athlete’s Commonwealth Games dreams to a grinding halt. But with help from the Royal Children’s Hospital, she’s now better than ever. And the young gun wants to say thanks.
Inner South
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It’s hard to believe that just 12 months ago an injury left young gymnast Sumer Daly’s Commonwealth Games dreams up in the air.
The Waverley Gymnastics Centre young gun’s gruelling 33 hour training schedule was bitterly interrupted in March last year after she was rushed to the Royal Children’s Hospital with a mysterious infection in her knee.
It was unknown what was causing the problem — and it led to unexplained pain and swelling around the joint.
Within two hours of arriving at hospital the Patterson Lakes 13-year-old was on the table for an urgent procedure to treat septic arthritis.
But despite her diagnosis, the dedicated Ashwood College student didn’t let the long road of recovery slash her dreams of competing at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Just last month, the miraculous teen touched down in Melbourne after representing the country at the L’International Gymnix in Montreal.
“Two weeks (after her surgery) her training was limited, she couldn’t compete for months,” dad Jerome Daly said.
“With the help of her physio team, coaches and Royal Children’s Hospital, it took Sumer half a year to get back to full strength.
“She went to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra in January this year and was selected to compete for the team in Montreal, almost to the date of her surgery.”
The Daly family will be donating to the Good Friday Appeal this Easter to say thanks as they do each year.
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Sumer, whose favourite competition is the bar, said she was thankful to coaches Jessica Mason and Jeb Silsbury along with the dedicated team of hospital specialists who helped get her career back on track.
The jet setting teen, who has also competed in Canada, Thailand and the Gold Coast, is currently completing a 16 hour training regimen with coaches over the internet as a result of strict coronavirus physical distancing rules.
“Sometimes the Wi-Fi drops out, but I’ve got a trampoline and bar set up at home,” she said.
“I want to also thank my parents too for pushing me to get through this.
“Gymnastics is just a fun and different sport … not many people can stay in it for so long.”
brittany.goldsmith@news.com.au