‘I will be pretty unstoppable’: Gwich'in ski jumper Alex Loutitt on post-injury recovery plans
CBC
Medal-winning ski jumper and Olympic hopeful Alex Loutitt — who has Nihtat Gwich’in roots — is currently concentrating on recovery, after a crash left her sidelined with an ACL injury in late September.
Loutitt says things are slowly looking up.
“It’s feeling better and better, but an ACL reconstruction is not a small knee surgery unfortunately, but I’m amazed with how quickly I’m starting to feel like myself again,” Loutitt told The CBC’s Wanda Mcleod on the phone from Austria.
“When I first had the injury I expected to not feel like myself for a very long time, so I’m very grateful for that.”
Recovery from this type of injury includes a lot of physiotherapy, and workouts which are much more basic than she’s used to, she said.
“Compared to what I’m normally doing it’s quite boring,” Loutitt said. “I think it’s kind of taking the tranquility and the calm and using that to help heal, and finding peace in the patience.”
She’s also had a challenging time facing the fact that she will not compete at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics in February.
Loutitt competed in the 2022 Winter Olympics, capturing a bronze medal.
“I’m always so proud to represent Canada and everyone back home and up North, to not have that opportunity anymore is really the most upsetting thing for me,” Loutitt said. “I do that at every competition but the one that people really resonate with is the Olympics.”
“You have this one chance every four years and it’s a little disappointing to miss the chance.”
She’s still in touch with her Team Canada teammates, and she said their support has been helpful while she’s in recovery and living in Austria. They’re all training in Europe as well.
“To get to see them is always so special, it means a lot to see them in a low moment.”
While she won’t be competing, she still plans to go to the Olympics next year as a spectator to support her teammates and her partner as they compete.
“Even if I’m just standing in the crowd cheering, holding a sign I will be there for sure,” she said. “I don’t want to miss my best friend or boyfriend winning an Olympic medal because I was hurting at that moment.”
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