It’s been a long few weeks for me since my last diary entry because I’ve spent the whole time recovering from the injury I sustained in the final against Argentina of our Olympic test event.
It came about at a penalty corner when the No 1 runner closing me down accidentally caught my right foot with her stick. The ball was on its way into the net when my foot was taken away from me and I went straight over on my ankle, causing some ligament damage. Someone in the crowd took a picture of the moment, which they sent on to me and you can see that things are definitely not right!
There was a brief moment where I wondered if my Olympic dream was over, and it was a nervous wait for the MRI scan to come back, but when it did the news was good and my rehab began immediately.
Initially I was in a boot and on crutches and so concentrated on keeping the rest of my body fit and strong. I even did a bit of cycling in the boot. Then after a couple of weeks of non weight-bearing work I started to do specific work on the ankle, mainly things to get my stability working again. The likes of wobble boards, reformer, and calf raises etcetera. As the strength began to increase I progressed from a slow drag flicking movement, to stamping down on my right foot. There was no pain, or swelling, even at the start, which was encouraging.
It’s been frustrating and I will admit that I’m quite a demanding patient because I get bored if it is the same old routine the whole time. But the physio has been very understanding and has constantly come up with new things to keep my rehab sessions fresh. Still, you are just dying to get on the pitch again, all the more so when you have to watch you team-mates play friendly matches as I did at the end of last week when they took on Australia, first at the Olympic Park, then on our training pitch at Bisham.
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They were competitive matches with the first ending 0-0 and the second unfortunately a 3-1 loss. The Australians play in a very specific style, far more directly than most teams, so it was very good practice for us – but I did want to be out there.
I’m itching to get back and would love to play in the Investec London Cup, which starts on Tuesday. It is our last tournament before the Games but the medical decision has been made that I will not be playing. I am disappointed as any athlete would be in the final preparation stages to not take part but have to believe that this is the best thing for me and I will get myself back 100 per cent fit for the games.
One thing that has definitely helped in my rehab is the support of all my team-mates but especially my friends Sally Walton and Ash Ball, who form the Six Footers club as we call ourselves. (We say “Six Footers” but actually we’re all just under. Sal says she’s taller than Ash and me, but that’s just because she spikes her hair.)
The three of us are regulars at porridge club. After our early morning training session we all head into Marlow and have breakfast in our favourite café. You can see from the video that we eat very healthily, with Ash putting her Masters in nutrition to good use.
Another distraction has been the marvellous trips our sponsors Investec have laid on for us. They put us up in a box at Lord’s during the England versus West Indies Test match which was wonderful. We did a great autograph signing session and I felt honoured with the interest from the crowd. So many people who were there had been to the Olympic test event just a few weeks earlier. We had such a sense of the public really getting behind us. They even asked about my injury.
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Our box was next door to Piers Morgan which was hilarious. He was great fun, but put it this way, his party enjoyed the hospitality a bit more than we were able to. Still, we did persuade him to tweet about the Investec London Cup this week, so hopefully that sold a few more tickets.
With him was the former cricketer Allan Lamb, who I knew because his daughter Katie-Ann went to Oakham School as I did and we were in the same house. I also managed to catch up with two other old school friends on the day – Stuart Broad, who was obviously playing, and his sister Gemma who is a bowling analyst for the ECB. So a great old Oakhamian day all round as well!
We were also treated by Investec to attend the Jubilee Derby, which was an opportunity to ditch the trainers for heels and a frock. The team all looked great, and it made a lovely change to our daily demands of our hockey schedule. The Queen was also in attendance, which marked the start of the jubilee celebrations, and it was amazing to see her looking so graceful in her navy suit. One of the highlights of the day was our captain Kate Walsh getting asked to present the trophy to the Derby winner on the day.
MEET CRISTA CULLEN
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My event: I play sweeper for the GB women’s hockey team
I am: 26
I grew up in: Kenya
I now live in: Roehampton
What’s on my iPod: Labrinth or, to chill out to, something by Tracy Chapman
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What I’m watching on YouTube: Fenton chasing the deer in Richmond Park. It’s an absolute classic
What I watch on TV: Mainly documentaries, anything to do with conservation and wildlife. I love Sir David Attenborough
Last movie I saw: American Pie, The Reunion, which I loved
I’d describe my dress sense as: Relatively classic, when I want to dress up for posh evenings
Favourite Athlete: Sir Steve Redgrave
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What you need to know about me: I am passionate about conservation, especially cats
What you’d never guess about me: I drive a Landrover
Three pics that symbolise my life:
Here I am as a child with a friend’s pet cheetah
This is me on my 21st at my “Born to be wild” party
Finally one of me in my GB kit with my ambitions for 2012