Nicole Good (25) survived concussions and drives harder than ever
Slalom climber was in the dark for weeks
Nicole Good (25) had to learn to be patient last fall. Because your head couldn’t keep up. She passed the exam with flying colours.
Published: 3 minutes ago
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Nicole Good suffered two concussions. Particular caution was required.
Mathias Germannreporter sports
How are you? It’s a question that gets asked millions of times a day. Nicole Good (25) also often hears her. In Bad Ragaz SG, not far from her home in Pfäfers, she is often asked – even now. “Good thank you. And you?” she replies. It all sounds banal – but in Good’s case it isn’t.
The St. Gallen native achieved her career best results this winter (19th in Levi, 20th in Killington and now 12th in Spindlermühle). Most recently, she didn’t score points three times in a row before she even got half the World Cup ticket. It is unmistakable: Good is on the right track. “I’m super happy with how things are going. Especially because I went through a difficult phase in the fall. »
What does she mean by that? Review: The combined junior world champion of 2019 fell during training at the beginning of September and hit her head. The diagnosis: concussion. “I didn’t have a headache, but I got problems with my eyes because of the many stimuli and quickly got tired.” It wasn’t Good’s first concussion, she’d had it before, most recently a year ago. “If you tear a cruciate ligament, you know exactly what to do in rehab. When it comes to head injuries, it’s a little more complicated.”
Swiss ski doctor explains: “Complete healing necessary”
Walter O. Frey is chief physician at Swiss Ski. He knows about concussions and says: “Only when it’s completely healed is there a green light for racing skiing.” That was no different in the case of Nicole Good. It is important to look after the athletes carefully until they return to sport. Frey explains: “If a concussion has not yet completely healed, there is a greater risk of injury if there is another traumatic brain injury.”
Walter O. Frey explains that a concussion must be fully healed.
Zvg
Walter O. Frey is chief physician at Swiss Ski. He knows about concussions and says: “Only when it’s completely healed is there a green light for racing skiing.” That was no different in the case of Nicole Good. It is important to look after the athletes carefully until they return to sport. Frey explains: “If a concussion has not yet completely healed, there is a greater risk of injury if there is another traumatic brain injury.”
In order to protect herself, her eyes and her head as much as possible, Good also went to bed during the day for weeks. Without a book, mobile phone or music – but in complete darkness. “I had to shut down the whole system. At some point I noticed during the many walks with my parents that things were getting better. Luckily, one step followed the other.”
Good feels at home
Today Good, who also did the BMS after the sports high school in Davos, could hardly be happier. “Everything is back to how it used to be.” She feels very comfortable in the newly created slalom group with Aline Danioth (24), Mélanie Meillard (24) and Elena Stoffel (26).
She worked particularly hard on her weakness, the steep passages. She has reaped the first fruits. “I’m not a super talent, I’m a creator,” says Good. Thanks to this gift, she also overcame the biggest hurdle in her career.