Kyah Simon leaves no ‘stone unturned’ during fight to get back on the pitch for Sydney FC
Kyah Simon has opened up about her ongoing injury battles, why she refuses to give up and the lengths she is going to make sure her she is fit for an A-League return.
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If you put aside the fact she can’t run, Kyah Simon is in the best shape of her career.
The star midfielder is spending up to 4.5 hours a day training, lifting weights she never thought possible but ongoing injuries has forced her to train more like an Aussie Dolphin than a Matilda to stay in peak physical condition.
Simon hasn’t played a single minute of football for new club Sydney FC this season.
Ongoing issues with her calf muscle and Achilles tendon have kept her stranded on the sidelines.
Simon has battled through many injuries in her 17-year career as a professional footballer.
She has no intention of letting this one force her into retirement.
The current issues started when she ruptured her ACL, medial cruciate ligament and tore her meniscus in a tackle while playing for Tottenham in the WSL in 2022.
While she recovered in time for the World Cup she suffered a setback in Matildas camp – forcing her time off the pitch to extend to close to 500 days.
Simon made her return to football late last season with Central Coast Mariners – scoring three goals in her 12 matches.
But the issues flared back up in the off-season – leaving Sydney FC’s star signing stuck in a seemingly never ending loop of rehab sessions.
“It has definitely been a bit of a roller coaster,” Simon said.
“It’s been challenging, some days I feel like I’m getting somewhere and I’m feeling better and then other days I feel like I’m not getting anywhere.
“I did get to the point where I was on the field, I was doing some football sessions, increasing my running load, I was close to transitioning to being back with the team and then my Achilles flared up.
“I’m in a pretty good place physically, in terms of just having a really good base of strength, I’m the strongest I’ve ever been, it’s a nice feeling to know all that work hasn’t been for nothing.
“I’m close to being out of the woods, it’s just a bit of a patience game at the moment.”
Simon considered packing the boots and shin pads away for good, more than once, but every time that thought floated into her brain her heart reminded her how much she loved the game.
So instead of shooting goals and training with the team Simon spends hours on her own in the gym lifting weights or swimming laps in the pool.
“I’m pulling on the goggles and keeping my fitness up that way, I’m not leaving any stone unturned and am making sure my whole body is in prime condition, not just my lower limbs,” Simon said.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve been the strongest swimmer in the past but I’m definitely improving, being the competitor I am, it’s just another challenge for me. I’m always trying to beat my times in the pool, just as much as I am in the gym.”
Her hours in the gym range from 2-4.5 a day. Her effort is yielding results with Simon now able to single leg press 150kg, squat and back squat 110kg and hip thrust 100 plus kilograms.
“I’ve hit (personal bests) in the gym which is nice at the ripe age of 33 to be hitting some of my strongest PBs in the gym,” Simon said.
“When you have that focus mindset and objective data and numbers to hit it builds confidence within yourself as well. One that you are on the right track and two that you’re hitting the goals that you need to.
“Seeing results is what keeps you going. I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t have the same passion and desire to play football that I had when I was 16-years-old.”
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