‘In my vocabulary there is no such word as impossible’ Sam Fontani

*Trigger warning: As Sam describes the event of her injury you may feel uncomfortable. If you are sensitive to hearing about traumatic injury you might want to skip a few seconds ahead around 5 mins in.

However, I’d recommend staying with the discomfort as Sam relays the traumatic event honestly and bravely. The severity of this event is her reality that she had to work through and overcome.

There is also some colourful language 😀*

Imagine you are training for a high level pole competition and just as you are running your routine for the final time that day, in front of your peers, you fall out of a pole move you’ve practised many times. You dislocate your shoulder resulting in multiple injuries (including an avulsion fracture at the greater tuberosity, slap tear grade 2, supraspinatus tendinosis…)

This is a nightmare for any pole dancer. For any athlete. I can’t even imagine…

One moment you are focusing on preparing to compete internationally and the next moment you need help to brush your teeth, to dress, to shower…to do everyday actions you never previously needed help with.

You have to focus on your rehab and find a new identity whilst you recover. You have to somehow support yourself financially when you used to make money through teaching your sport.

This is Sam’s story - it’s a story of resilience, of believing in the impossible and not losing hope.

Useful links:

Artemis Pole Studio Instagram:

https://instagram.com/artemispolestudio.ldn?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng==

Sam’s Instagram:

https://instagram.com/polewithsam?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ==

Websites

https://www.artemispolestudio.com/

https://www.polewithsam.com/

Useful evidence based books recommended by Sam:

The Vital Shoulder Complex

John Gibbons

https://amzn.to/3QSGCpt

Explain Pain

Lorimer Moseley, David Butler

https://amzn.to/3SB2oPQ

Clinical Sports Medicine

Brunner and Khan's

https://amzn.to/3syhNWf

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