It's been a week to remember - and a year to forget - for courageous Coquitlam gymnast Brittany Rogers.
Like qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics last Wednesday was not thrilling and reward enough, Rogers returned home from overseas to joyfully discover via her email account that she'd been chosen the recipient of Sport BC's 2011 Harry Jerome Comeback Award, which recognizes an athlete who overcame an unusual setback to perform again at their peak level.
"So many things have been thrown at me in the past few days... it's just amazing," Rogers told The Tri-City News on Tuesday. "It's kind of surreal to me. Yes, I did come back from a huge injury but I never expected this kind of recognition for it. I'm so grateful."
In the case of the 18-year-old Rogers, she fractured her ankle competing at the Pacific Rim championships in May, 2010. After getting casted and sitting out an entire year undergoing extensive rehabilitation treatment, Rogers was still extremely leery that she'd be able to compete again.
Oh, she did. Last week, her perseverance paid off huge when she was part of the Canadian women's team that made the Olympic standard at a last-chance qualifying meet in England.
"I was ready to quit," Rogers said of her initial reaction after her injury, which required surgery to repair. "I didn't feel I had enough power and strength mentally and physically to come back. It was scary... the scariest thing of my life. But I went with my gut instinct, kept working and it's worked out. I hope [winning the award] shows other athletes they can come back no matter what they come across and have to deal with."
Past winners of the Harry Jerome Comeback Award include rower Silken Laumann, alpine skier Emily Brydon and figure skater Karen Magnussen.
Rogers' parents, Gina and Gord, travelled with Brittany to Gatineau, Que. on Boxing Day to support her during Canadian team trials. Gina said she could see right off her daughter and the entire Canadian team were pumped at the prospect of making the Olympics.
"[Brittany] was literally off for a year before she could begin full routines again," Gina said. "Considering she couldn't walk a year ago, she has accomplished so much over the past 12 months. Britt is very hard on herself... that to me, is the hardest thing to watch.
"As parents, we are always proud of whatever our children accomplish but when they are proud of their own accomplishments, there's no greater feeling in the world."
A former member of Coquitlam's Omega Gymnastics Club, Rogers now trains under the tutelage of highly regarded David Kenwright at North Vancouver's Flicka Gymnastics.
Rogers will be honoured at Sport BC's annual awards ceremony dinner on March 8 at Richmond's River Rock Show Theatre. At the same time, it will be determined how Coquitlam golfer Jisoo Keel fares after being nominated for Junior Female Athlete of the Year, along with Victoria diver Emily Schmidt and Burnaby table tennis player Shirley Fu.
