Western United’s Chloe Logarzo finally injury-free after an off-season competing in The Amazing Race
Western United playmaker Chloe Logarzo reveals that time away from the game and a reality TV stint has rejuvenated her after a horror run of injuries.
Injuries have plagued Chloe Logarzo’s past two seasons but the Western United playmaker is far from ready to hang up the boots – instead opting to rewire her brain in a bid to keep her body from turning on itself.
The 29-year-old has spent the past two years recovering from a ruptured ACL, plantar fasciitis, hip injury and a stress fracture in her femur.
Injuries have kept her at arm’s length from the national team and hampered her ability to play for club too.
Logarzo managed 17 appearances for Western United last season – scoring 9 goals along the way. A big step up from the six games she managed the previous season.
Her goal this year is to simply remain injury free.
Logarzo’s first step was to take some serious time away from football – she took part in reality TV show The Amazing Race with fellow A-League's’ player Emily Gielnik, and hardly touched a football for four months.
It was the first time since her debut 12 years ago she had taken an off-season. Previously Logarzo would jump from league to league and also be called into the national team camp.
“I did everything not related to football in the four months that we had off and I think that’s exactly what I needed, especially after the really, really tough back to back to back injuries in the last three years,” Logarzo said.
“It’s given me this new lease on life and on football, and I’m the most excited I’ve ever been going into a season.”
The next step in Logarzo’s process was to rewire her brain and overhaul her thought process.
“I want to be fit and healthy and playing every single game – that is my sole goal,” Logarzo said.
“My body, towards the end of my career has been a bit of a shambles. This year is about protecting me as much as I can and reframing my mind in how I work.
“I’m not 18 any more, I can’t run 12 to 13km a game anymore.
“I need to remind myself every day at training about how much I can get out of the time I have instead of trying to do extras.”
The past two seasons Logarzo has been racing the clock to have her body fit for the World Cup or Olympics – this season there is no major tournament looming.
“It was extra stress, pushing myself to get back to the national team, I’ve put myself in situations that I wouldn’t normally put myself in, trying to get back to that and push myself over those boundaries.
“This season I just want to let myself be and see where the season takes me and have faith in the training that I’m doing.”
Western United will host Wellington Phoenix in the opening round of the A-League’s Women’s competition on November 1.
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