Smashing it: Badmonton’s Susan Egelstaff on beating knee injury and Olympic dreams

Commonwealth medal-winning badminton player Susan Egelstaff had her sights firmly set on the London 2012 Olympics when disaster struck. Sitting in the GB No. 1 spot everything was on course to qualify when she suffered a terrible knee injury. In this brilliant episode, she talks candidly about what it was like after 14 years of training to get to this point only to face having your dreams swept away. You don’t have to be a badminton player to emphasise with Susan’s story, it will resonate with any athlete who has faced or is facing a similar situation.
Top-level badminton is a high-energy sport requiring a ton of pivoting and jumping, Susan’s injury caused her thigh and shin bones to ‘smash’ together. Prof Mackay who performed her surgery explains more about this unusual injury and why he felt it happened. Recounting that time now you can still hear the emotion Susan felt on hearing her diagnosis and the prospect of a long recovery.

Unique sports injuries podcast hosted by expert, specialist sports orthopaedic surgeon, Professor Gordon Mackay, and broadcaster Jennifer Reoch who asks the questions you all want answers to! Together they explore the world of sport, injuries, treatments, rehab, and recovery.
We have amazing guests who range from Olympians to weekend warriors in all sporting disciplines- from football to skiing, golf to rugby, we learn how they managed their injuries and recoveries and discover what impact this had on their sporting careers. But we also love to chat about their sporting careers and highlights.
In other episodes, experts in fields of sports medicine and rehab join us to discuss how advances in research, technology and treatments are helping athletes both avoid injury or accelerate recovery.
Conversations range from the light-hearted to the more serious and along the way it is hoped listeners pick up tips about how to deal with your own sports injuries, how to avoid injury, and just enjoy the general sports chat.
In this episode, we're thrilled to have Olympian Andy Butchart, a standout figure in the world of athletics, joining us on the podcast. Andy is renowned for his incredible achievements and unwavering passion for his sport. For years though, Andy has been plagued by a condition known as Haglund's deformity, causing persistent heel pain, he recently decided to have surgery even though it means he will miss the Paris Olympics. He explains his decision and long-term vision of a commitment to returning stronger and better than ever.
Prof Mackay talks us through this common injury, also known as Pump Bump, why it happens, what you can do to try relieving it, and if all else fails, how surgery can help. Andy is recovering well and focussing during rehab on what he can do to stay strong. He has some great tips for others struggling with the same problem.
Andy's journey to the top began to gain serious momentum when he clinched the British 5000-meter title, a victory that earned him a spot on Team GB at the Rio Olympics where he delivered a stellar performance, finishing sixth in the 5000 meters final and setting a new Scottish record. He has continued to shine on the international stage – his versatility netting him bronze at the European Cross Country Championships in 2017. More recently he competed in the 2022 Commonwealth Games – demonstrating his versatility and endurance across different running disciplines. In his downtime, he also recently broke the Park Run World Record!
Jennifer is impressed by Andy's incredible enthusiasm for his sport, his positivity about beating his injury as well as his optimism for the future. Download this episode today.
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Sportspeople in any field will be fascinated to hear Susan talk openly about how she hated her slow, arduous rehabilitation process and how lonely it was. But she also talks about how much she was helped by talking to a sports psychologist who played a pivotal role in maintaining her mental health and positivity throughout. She has some great tips about coping with both sides of recovery.
This is a fascinating, deep dive with a funny, engaging guest looking not only at what it takes to get to the highest level in sport but also at what can happen when serious injury strikes. More importantly though, it is a tale of snatching a hard-won victory from the jaws of defeat.