TCSD TriNews December 2014 12 2014 | Page 9

14037 Midland Rd, Poway, CA 92064 858-842-4664 But I did, and I was even faster, more committed and determined. in the pool but no flip turning in fear of hitting my left ankle on top of the pool. The break to both tibia and fibula were so bad that the bone growth needed was a very slow process. I ended up having five surgeries to the leg over a 13 month period with two bone grafts to help enable bone growth. What was your comeback like after that terrible accident? Kyle: Very slowly, and painful. My family is incredible and my parents took me in because I needed 24/7 care. I had so much support from extended family and friends that would stay with me once I got out of the hospital while my parents were at work. I had some really dark days over the first six months. I went from full on ironman training to stuck in a bed all day. Just to do something/anything I would go in the back yard and my dad would bring weights out to do some upper body weights. After I was able to get around OK on my own I moved back into my townhouse in Missoula. I could not work so I would do as much as I could at the gym. I would lift upper body, a lot of one legged squats and toe raisers, swim Lesley Paterson has had a big influence on your success. What have you learned from Lesley that sets her apart from other coaches you have worked with? Kyle: I originally met Lesley in the pool, and we swam in the same lane in Masters swimming, and she was all intense and encouraging all at the same time. I was like ‘who is this little Scottish girl all amped up all the time?’ Then overy. On the way to rec continued on page 10 WWW.TRICLUBSANDIEGO.ORG 9