Casey Dumont's long road back
- Ann Odong
- Sep 11, 2013
- 6 min read
In June 2011 Queenslander Casey Dumont was 18 years old and on top of the world.
She had just come off an unbelievable 12 months in which she had collected an Asian Cup medal, a second W-League championship with Brisbane Roar and had been selected in Australia’s squad for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
But the ever-smiling Dumont was playing through pain. Every player does at some point in their career. But this was different.
The constant ache lasted throughout the 2011-2012 W-League season, with varying levels of acuteness. Not even weeks out of the game could fix the problem and after the grand final loss to Canberra United, Dumont’s football world came crashing down.
Severe osteitis pubis, multiple stress fractures, ligament and tendon damage of the pelvis and inflammation of hip sockets/joints; it was a smorgasbord of pelvic, hip and lower body injuries.
The Brisbane Roar goalkeeper since she was just 16 years old, these were Dumont’s first major injuries. For the first time in her football career she was facing questions about her football mortality. Would she come back? Could she come back?
Casey, tell us about the complications that occurred to cause an extended time away from the game?
The reason I was out for such a period of time was because when I got the diagnosis during the W-League, I actually should have been smart and stopped playing during the regular season.
With every game I kept playing, I kept making my time for recovering and getting better longer plus, with being misdiagnosed, I was actually a lot worse than they thought. Initially I was told I’d be out for 6 months then, when there was more pain and I was not recovering, they redid the scans and saw I’d be out a lot longer.
What were the treatment plans and the rehabilitation required?
I tried a few treatments and rehab programs and to be honest I have forgotten most of them. That’s how many I tried!
The main one was resting. I was bed bound for 6 months just trying to get rid of pain, taking medication. Then I tried numerous training techniques but they failed. I had to do weekly to fortnightly physiotherapy sessions. I had to also visit women’s clinics to learn to strengthen my basic pelvic floor muscles, plus yoga and pilates.
I went on to walking, starting off at 10 minutes, then 20 minutes, before building up to 60 minutes. It has really only been in the last four months that I have been doing proper training and exercises. Before that it was just learning to redo things in a way that didn’t bring on pain and visiting the physio regularly to get massages to loosen up any tightness so no pain would occur.
So it has been a very, very long journey in trying different techniques and programs to just get me back to my regular life, let alone the sporting life.
What was the most difficult part physically?
I think every aspect was difficult. There has never been an easy part.
"This injury has challenged me physically mentally spiritually and emotionally. It has made me question everything in life and has made me now enjoy everything and not take anything for granted because in those first few months I was bedridden."
I was basically incapacitated and relying on my family to do a large amount as I couldn’t perform daily living activities without them.
Physically the worst part was not being able to do normal activities like walking to the kitchen or bathroom without pain, or being able to walk on the beach, or go into the water because one wave hitting me would keep me in bed for a week and on pain relief to help me survive.
I don’t think anyone should go through what I did. No one deserves to.
While the injuries took a severe physical toll on Dumont, emotionally it was devastating. Physically strong, active and part of a strong football community for most of her young life, Dumont suddenly found herself isolated from what she had always known.
Added to the isolation was the stop/start nature of her recovery. Every time a little progress seemed to be made, a new setback would occur and the pain would return. For several months ‘normal’ looked way off in the distance and football looked too far.
How did you deal emotionally with the ups and downs?
The honest answer is I didn’t. I didn’t cope at all. I gave up many times and it affected me very much. Last year was probably the worst time of my life.
"I not only had to deal with the physical injuries but emotionally I was injured as well. It changed me very much and, although I can see now it has been for the better, at the time I couldn’t see that."
It was very hard going from my life as a semi professional athlete to then becoming a no-one and doing nothing. It was shock to the system and it showed in every way through body language, emotions, my daily living attitude. It was horrible. Literally an emotional roller coaster and I never ever want to go on it again.
What kind of support have you had within football to assist you?
To be honest again I cut myself off from the football world. I couldn’t handle it because it just made it even harder to deal with what was happening.
I really have to thank David Battersby, my physio, because I truly believe without him giving me his 120% commitment in helping get my normal life back and then helping me to get back into training and playing again, I wouldn’t be where I am today. David is just a legend in helping get everything back that I once had.
Of course I also had my close football mates like Laura Alleway, Aivi Luik and Ashley Spina regularly seeing how I was and visiting me because they knew I was going through a hard time. Those people helped me get back to the now.
Who have been your biggest supporters generally?
My biggest supporters are the people who have put up with me, whether in my good or bad moods, my ups or downs. My Mum, who is my biggest supporter, my brother ,who always put the truth in front of me to help me deal with what I needed to, my Dad and David Battersby.
David put up with a lot that’s not in his job description. He saw me regularly even when I didn’t want to see him. He pushed me when I didn’t want to push myself.
I also have my close mates to thank. They helped me have fun, enjoying the life a 20- 21 year old should have.
These people honestly helped and supported me even when I pushed them away.
Football was such a large part of your life, how have you kept occupied outside of the game?
Well this experience has not been all negatives. I have actually been able to almost complete my Bachelor of Nursing. I’m currently in last semester for that so fingers, crossed graduation is in December.
Of late I have been able to do normal fun stuff: boat cruises, camping, just having a good time generally.
Back in training for the past 4 months, and well and truly on the road to recovery in all aspects, the now 21 year old is bubbling with optimism about the future.
Reuniting with her Young Matildas mentor, Alen Stajcic, Dumont has signed with defending champions Sydney FC, despite Brisbane Roar wanting to sign her alongside German international Nadine Angerer, and she is aiming to have an impact this upcoming W-League season.
A new city, a new club, a new coach, a new lease of life for her football career: it’s a place Dumont never thought she would get to during those dark days.
What have you missed most about the game?
EVERYTHING!! Just being able to kick the ball or run (which still I’m monitored on as I can’t do too much running) - there isn’t one aspect I didn’t miss. I missed everything and with soccer being my life, or was my life, I just wanted to be able to get on the field again and put my boots on to catch, kick and dive again.
How have you kept positive and kept working for a return?
There have been times I haven’t been, but just seeing little and I mean the smallest progress in recovery has kept me positive. However it’s only now that I’m fully positive.
Plus I miss the atmosphere. I miss the girls. I miss the W-League.
"I believe I should be there. I have the talent. I should be at that level again so I want to push myself to get there again. That’s been my major belief."
It is going to have to take a lot more than what I have experienced to keep me away from soccer.
What is one thing you are looking forward to the most on your return?
I am looking forward to the challenges that the soccer world brings.
I have signed for Sydney FC so I’m looking forward to the new team and new atmosphere. I am looking forward to challenging the Matildas keepers. I want to be back in that squad and I am going to fight hard to get there.
I have two years to make up for, so I’m looking forward to everything that is thrown at me.
Originally written for The Women’s Game
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