(photo by Doug Austin-http://public.fotki.com/dugaut/)
Athlete Spotlight: Dan Smith Thornton Academy
1. You tore your ACL during the football season, and had to miss the indoor season. Can you talk about what you have been doing to rehab and to get back throwing for the outdoor season?
I had surgery in late November last year and for around 8 weeks I worked with a Physical therapist to ease back into normal everyday activity. We spent a lot of time working on simple things like walking correctly and using proper form for a variety of movements. Around mid January I began working with the trainer at TA. Since I’ve eased back into activity slowly, starting with jogging and weight lifting in February and soon after agility workouts, sprints, and increased weights for leg lifts. At this point of my rehab I’m into nearly all ranges of motion and higher levels of activity.
2. What has been the hardest part of the rehab process?
The feeling of discomfort lasted for only a short while so over a majority of the six month recovery I’ve felt rather normal and uninjured. It takes a long time for an ACL graft to heal and while it may feel normal the ligament is still very weak and can re-tear very easily. Its probably been the most difficult to restrain myself from playing basketball or any sort of activity that I might endanger the welfare of my knee and wind up reinjuring it. Also during the winter I had to be very wary of ice and not to fall down.
3. What was the toughest thing about not being able to compete indoors?
During the indoor season I was elected captain of the team and spent a lot of time watching my friends and competitors compete without me. It was a feeling left over from football of watching my friends playing and participating in something I was no longer fully a part of. It was really lonely sometimes and I felt left out. It was the first real injury that had put me on the shelf and not having a physical outlet was frustrating.
(Dan Smith runner-up SMAA 2008 Shot Put--Photo by Jason Tanguay)
4. When do you anticipate being able to compete during the outdoor season? How is the early season training going? Have you been able to do any full throws?
I've met with my orthopedic doctor, Doctor Solari, and have received clearance for near full activity and a projected full activity for the beginning of May. Over April break I’ll have a strength test and if I pass I can begin full activity at my trainer’s discretion. He and I feel confident that I can be back in the circle in about 2 weeks. My training has been really quite good as the Coach at Brown has been sending me workouts to follow. I have yet to advance to full throws but I’ve started with the basics which have gone very well so far.
5. You made your college decision earlier this fall; you’re going to join your sister at Brown? What made you decide to go to Brown?
I had been in-between a number of schools during the fall and speaking with the coaches they urged me to apply early decision. I had narrowed it down to Dartmouth and Brown, both of which I had previously visited over the summer. I had my official visits and very near the application date of November 1st decided on Brown. I was under the gun to decide and it just seemed that Brown was a better fit for me.
6. Last year you had a strong year, winning both the Shot put & Discus titles outdoors by dominating the field, and then going on to place 2nd in New England’s in the Discus with a huge throw of 169-05, and 3rd in the Shot Put. What are your goals for the outdoor season?
Well definitely the injury has been a setback and above all else I’m hoping to have a season that I enjoy and in some capacity be competitive and possibly repeat this year. I'm still conscious of the fact I won't be at 100% until very late in the season if at all but I still think it is possible to be as competitive as I was before the injury. As for actual goals I still dream about the state record in both the shot put and the discus and being so close is tantalizing.
(photo by Doug Austin-http://public.fotki.com/dugaut/)
7. Can you describe a typical week of training during the season?
We usually practice from 2-4 or 5 where the throwing team will throw, then do some sort of core/sprint workout, and then whenever that may end some of us may go to the gym, usually three or four of the days that week. On Saturday we have a morning practice if the weather is decent.
8. What has been you biggest accomplishment in your four years of high school, on or off the track?
I have accomplished many things on sports teams but I feel most proud of getting accepted to brown. Academics are really important and I’m proud of the fact I can excel in both sports and academics.
9. What advice would you give to a young thrower on what it takes to be successful?
Work smart not hard. It’s best to think things through and figure them out right rather than pouring pure effort into it. Learn the form; learn it well and everything should fall into place. If you ever get caught in a slump take a step back and make drastic changes. Sooner or later something will click.
10. Who has been the most influential person in your life?
Most likely my dad. He's been the voice of reason for me my whole life.