Professional athletes are perhaps the closest thing we have to real life superheroes. Their games are like weekly comic book issues, we tune in to see if our favorites will be victorious. But life is rough when your favorite player is 5โ4โ and fearless enough to constantly ask โwhatโs up, danger?โ Less than two years after suffering a broken back, and only a few months after sporting a cast on her wrist, Hayley Raso broke her nose during an Olympic qualifying match against China.
Anyone who has ever seen Raso play knows she gives it her all every time no matter what. It was no different during an Olympic qualifying match against China earlier this month. An elbow to the face broke her nose. Did that stop her from finishing the game? Of course not! She patched herself up and got right back into the game to help the Matildas tie China 1-1.
But the injury was serious enough to warrant surgery. Raso was due to start with her new club, Everton, but that’s now delayed. Instead of flying to the UK, she found herself in the operating room. Not to worry though, the ribbon-clad forward updated fans on the status of her injury on Instagram.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Hayley Raso (@hayleyraso) on
It is comforting to know the surgery went without a hitch and sheโs healing well. But now, itโs a mental game. With so many injuries in such a short amount of time, one can only imagine the mental anguish that comes with it. Those ups and downs can be exhausting. While your body might need rest, your mind wants action. No matter how tough you are, itโs a hard battle to fight on your own.
Luckily, we know Raso isnโt going it alone. Friends, family, and fans are cheering her on. Thereโs a good chance weโll see her play, most likely in a protective face mask, during Australiaโs next qualifying match against Vietnam on March 6th.
Sure, athletes donโt fight villains or save the world. But, maybe itโs enough for them to bring someone enough joy every week to get them to stick around to catch the next match. And the next one. And the one after that. When you see them fall into the belly of the whale, walk a road of trials, and make a triumphant return, you canโt help but wonder if maybe you can do that too. Isnโt that heroic on its own? Itโs tough for us Hayley Raso fans to see her endure this many injuries in such a short amount of time. But no matter hard sheโs knocked down, she always gets back up and fights twice as hard. Because thatโs what heroes do.