There is no such thing as a ache barrier Aussie Olympic hopeful Clay Stephens cannot smash via. The gymnast has already been to hell and again forward of Paris.
Stephens remembers waking up within the bathe, lined in vomit and blood. Battling melancholy and nervousness, he typically drank closely and abused Oxycodone throughout his darkest instances.
Although he by no means tried to take his personal life, he admits to participating in ‘dangerous actions.’ Three years later, Stephens is glad, wholesome, and aiming to compete within the Paris Olympics.
The 26-year-old will take part within the Oceania Championships in Auckland on Sunday, hoping to safe a spot on the Australian Olympic staff in inventive gymnastics.
Clay Stephens is hoping to beat a wretched run of accidents and prescription drug habit to discover a place on the aircraft to the Paris Olympics
The Aussie gymnast will compete on the Oceania Championships in Auckland on Sunday for Olympic qualification
Stephens had dreamed of competing within the Tokyo Olympics, however these hopes have been crushed by a 3rd ACL rupture. Dwelling alone on campus on the College of Illinois throughout COVID-19, his life spiraled downward.
‘I used to be in such emotional and psychological ache,’ he stated. ‘You go, ‘What can repair this?’ and then you definitely do it [take Oxycodone while drinking alcohol] and you do not have to fret about something as a result of your mind’s not serious about something. It is an escape.’
From 2017 onwards, Stephens spent 4 years totally on crutches, present process six knee surgical procedures. ‘I might get off the crutches for 2 months after which I might tear my ACL once more,’ he stated.
He returned simply in time for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Video games, the place he got here near successful a medal. Nevertheless, a number of months later, tragedy struck when his shut pal Josh took his personal life.
He remembers 2020 and 2021 because the lowest level in his life. ‘I used to be bodily remoted, socially remoted, and geographically remoted from my household,’ he stated. ‘It was isolation in each sense of the phrase.’
Stephens was happening reckless adventures with no look after his wellbeing on the peak of his downward spiral. He nonetheless loves an journey, however takes a extra cautious method now
Stephens is burning to make the Oympics squad after lacking out on Tokyo due to an ACL tear
Stephens was prescribed Oxycodone for his knee ache however hardly used it. Consequently, he had six bottles of the treatment available. ‘I used to be caught in my very own place. I might hobble down, get somebody to seize me a case of beers, and I might be dropping these ache meds with beers.’
‘I wasn’t suicidal, however I used to be very lively in pursuit of dangerous actions. It was a interval of risking all of it and seeing what occurs.’
‘It’s extremely troublesome to get out of a spot that you do not need to get out of,’ he stated. ‘I discovered loads of consolation in being sad for some time.’
Stephens finally accepted life’s unpredictability and selected to take the danger to be glad. ‘Having all of those low moments compelled me into reflection, and I’ve discovered a spot the place I am having fun with and understanding the significance of each single day.’
Trying on the Olympic Video games now, he strives for it simply as exhausting as ever, however tries to get pleasure from every day greater than the final.
