{"id":26201,"date":"2019-09-12T10:13:05","date_gmt":"2019-09-12T16:13:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=26201"},"modified":"2024-12-23T14:26:08","modified_gmt":"2024-12-23T21:26:08","slug":"three-time-olympic-gymnast-from-pain-to-perfection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/three-time-olympic-gymnast-from-pain-to-perfection\/","title":{"rendered":"Three-time Olympic gymnast: from pain to perfection"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div><figure id=\"attachment_26213\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26213\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26213 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091839\/Jessica-uneven-bars-tiny.webp\" alt=\"Olympic gymnast Jessica Lopez poses with the uneven bars \" width=\"640\" height=\"388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091839\/Jessica-uneven-bars-tiny.webp 1200w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091839\/Jessica-uneven-bars-tiny-300x182.webp 300w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091839\/Jessica-uneven-bars-tiny-1024x620.webp 1024w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091839\/Jessica-uneven-bars-tiny-768x465.webp 768w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091839\/Jessica-uneven-bars-tiny-150x91.webp 150w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091839\/Jessica-uneven-bars-tiny-200x121.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26213\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Olympic gymnast, Jessica L\u00f3pez, poses with the uneven bars. She won 6th at the 2016 Olympics in the uneven bars and 7th in the all-around competition, the best showing ever for a Venezuelan gymnast. Photo by Cyrus McCrimmon for UCHealth. Gym: Colorado Gymnastics Institute.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The gymnast flies through the air on the uneven bars at the Rio Olympics, pirouettes, twists, releases<strong>, <\/strong>blindly grabs the bars behind her, and for a second, holds a perfect handstand, her long legs towering high above the bars in a moment of pure beauty and athleticism.<\/p>\n<p>Then, Jessica L\u00f3pez dismounts, nails the landing, and in an uncharacteristic show of emotion, claps, smiles broadly and raises a fist in the air.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-youtube su-u-responsive-media-yes\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UAiYU10O8JU?autohide=2&amp;autoplay=0&amp;mute=0&amp;controls=1&amp;fs=1&amp;loop=0&amp;modestbranding=0&amp;rel=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;theme=dark&amp;wmode=&amp;playsinline=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture\" title=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>She knows she has done it: completed a flawless routine that would earn her 6<sup>th<\/sup> place at the 2016 Olympics in the uneven bars and 7<sup>th<\/sup> in the all-around competition, the best finish ever for any Venezuelan gymnast.<\/p>\n<p>Little did gymnastics fans know that in the months and years leading up to Rio, there were times when L\u00f3pez could barely walk, much less pound her bare feet onto the mats.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26268\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26268\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26268 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04131255\/Jessica-splits-tiny.webp\" alt=\"Olympic gymnast Jessica L\u00f3pez does the splits in mid-air during a routine on the uneven bars\" width=\"640\" height=\"482\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04131255\/Jessica-splits-tiny.webp 1200w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04131255\/Jessica-splits-tiny-300x226.webp 300w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04131255\/Jessica-splits-tiny-1024x771.webp 1024w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04131255\/Jessica-splits-tiny-768x579.webp 768w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04131255\/Jessica-splits-tiny-150x113.webp 150w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04131255\/Jessica-splits-tiny-200x151.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26268\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jessica L\u00f3pez on the uneven bars. Photo courtesy of Jessica L\u00f3pez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>To make it to the Olympics, she had to train endlessly, fight through severe Achilles tendon pain and tap deep reservoirs of mental toughness. Her support team included her family, her longtime coach and her medical team at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/locations\/uchealth-orthopedics-steadman-hawkins-clinic-denver\/\">UCHealth Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Denver<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s amazing. She\u2019s this teeny-tiny person with a huge spirit,\u201d said L\u00f3pez\u2019 physical therapist, Beth Park.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26212\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26212\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-26212\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091835\/Feet-no-backlighting-tiny.webp\" alt=\"Jessica L\u00f3pez closeup of her feet on a balance beam.\" width=\"640\" height=\"388\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091835\/Feet-no-backlighting-tiny.webp 1200w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091835\/Feet-no-backlighting-tiny-300x182.webp 300w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091835\/Feet-no-backlighting-tiny-1024x620.webp 1024w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091835\/Feet-no-backlighting-tiny-768x465.webp 768w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091835\/Feet-no-backlighting-tiny-150x91.webp 150w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091835\/Feet-no-backlighting-tiny-200x121.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26212\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Olympic gymnast, Jessica L\u00f3pez, could barely walk after her Achilles tendons became severely swollen. Photo by Cyrus McCrimmon for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWe do our best to treat all people as if they were world-class athletes, but to actually be in the presence of someone of Jessica\u2019s caliber is very special. She\u2019s amazing. She has more drive and determination than anyone I have ever met.\u201d Park said.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Her coach\u2019s \u2018once in a lifetime athlete\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Now 33, L\u00f3pez has been doing gymnastics since age 3 when she started playing around at the gym in Caracas where her older sister competed. A natural at the sport, L\u00f3pez was recruited at age 10 to join the Venezuelan national team. The federation tapped coaches from gymnastics powerhouses including Romania and Russia. L\u00f3pez lived with her teammates, trained full time and learned classical ballet in addition to gymnastics.<\/p>\n<p>She went on to compete for the <a href=\"https:\/\/denverpioneers.com\/sports\/womens-gymnastics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">University of Denver<\/a> from 2005 to 2009, where she was one of DU\u2019s most decorated gymnasts and a five-time All American. L\u00f3pez long has called Denver home.<\/p>\n<p>She\u2019s just 5\u2019 2\u2019\u2019, so if you pass her on the street, you\u2019d never guess she\u2019s a three-time Olympian who has the ferocity of a giant.<\/p>\n<p>L\u00f3pez\u2019 longtime coach, Nilson Savage, chokes up as he speaks about L\u00f3pez.<\/p>\n<p>He calls her that \u201conce in a lifetime athlete.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26264\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26264\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-26264\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130906\/DU-beam-shot-tiny.webp\" alt=\"Olympic gymnas, Jessic L\u00f3pez, does the splits on the balance beam while competing for the University of Denver.\" width=\"640\" height=\"884\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130906\/DU-beam-shot-tiny.webp 724w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130906\/DU-beam-shot-tiny-217x300.webp 217w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130906\/DU-beam-shot-tiny-109x150.webp 109w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130906\/DU-beam-shot-tiny-200x276.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26264\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jessica L\u00f3pez, competing for the University of Denver. Photo courtesy of DU Media Relations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cShe has this combination of being very, very powerful and very artistic. And she persevered through all her aches and pains. That\u2019s very rare. In my 38 years of coaching, she\u2019s the one gymnast who combined all of those qualities,\u201d Savage said. \u201cShe\u2019s a warrior.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26265\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26265\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-26265\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130910\/Floor-exercises-DU-tiny.webp\" alt=\"Olympic gymnast Jessica L\u00f3pez competes in floor exercises during college.\" width=\"640\" height=\"415\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130910\/Floor-exercises-DU-tiny.webp 1200w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130910\/Floor-exercises-DU-tiny-300x195.webp 300w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130910\/Floor-exercises-DU-tiny-1024x664.webp 1024w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130910\/Floor-exercises-DU-tiny-768x498.webp 768w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130910\/Floor-exercises-DU-tiny-150x97.webp 150w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130910\/Floor-exercises-DU-tiny-200x130.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26265\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jessica L\u00f3pez has always been able to combine artistry with athleticism. Here she competes in the floor exercises for the University of Denver. Photo courtesy of DU Media Relations.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Savage is originally from Brazil and now is an assistant coach for the women\u2019s gymnastics team at Iowa State University. He said L\u00f3pez gave him a gift to him by doing so well in his native city and brought great pride to Venezuela and all of South America, which hosted its first Olympics ever at the Rio Games.<\/p>\n<p>L\u00f3pez is also unique for her staying power in a sport where teens dominate. She long has competed against girls half her age. Savage wouldn\u2019t count her out if she decides to train for her fourth Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-youtube su-u-responsive-media-yes\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XLXKicqMJ_w?autohide=2&amp;autoplay=0&amp;mute=0&amp;controls=1&amp;fs=1&amp;loop=0&amp;modestbranding=0&amp;rel=0&amp;showinfo=1&amp;theme=dark&amp;wmode=&amp;playsinline=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture\" title=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s an overachiever. Once she puts her mind to something, the possibilities are limitless,\u201d Savage said.<\/p>\n<p>Before L\u00f3pez could dazzle the crowds at the Olympics, however, she needed to be able to walk.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>From pure joy to severe pain<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>L\u00f3pez still remembers the joy she felt when she landed her first back flip at age 5. She felt carefree, hurling herself backwards and landing firmly on her feet.<\/p>\n<p>All those landings have added up over the years. While L\u00f3pez and most gymnasts constantly train with pain, L\u00f3pez could no longer ignore the messages her body was sending back in 2013. She had made it to the all-around final at the World Championships in Antwerp \u2013 a great accomplishment. But, her Achilles tendons were so sore that she could barely put any weight on her heels.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26211\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26211\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26211 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091831\/Face-down-on-bar-tiny.webp\" alt=\"Olympic gymnast Jessica Lopez poses on the balance beam.\" width=\"640\" height=\"491\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091831\/Face-down-on-bar-tiny.webp 1200w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091831\/Face-down-on-bar-tiny-300x230.webp 300w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091831\/Face-down-on-bar-tiny-1024x785.webp 1024w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091831\/Face-down-on-bar-tiny-768x589.webp 768w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091831\/Face-down-on-bar-tiny-150x115.webp 150w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091831\/Face-down-on-bar-tiny-200x153.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26211\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Three-time Olympic gymnast, Jessica L\u00f3pez, poses on the balance beam. L\u00f3pez has always been known for both her artistry and her athleticism. Photo by Cyrus McCrimmon for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI couldn\u2019t imagine running to perform my vault or my floor routine, I gave everything I had during podium training and prelims. The pain was unbearable,\u201d L\u00f3pez said.<\/p>\n<p>Devastated, she had to withdraw. When she returned home to Denver, one of L\u00f3pez\u2019 first stops was a visit to the Steadman Hawkins clinic.<\/p>\n<p>Park, her physical therapist, remembers how bad L\u00f3pez\u2019 Achilles tendons looked.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26216\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26216\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-26216\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091849\/Olympic-rings-tiny.webp\" alt=\"Olympic gymnast Jessica L\u00f3pez shows off her tattoo with the Olympic rings.\" width=\"640\" height=\"424\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091849\/Olympic-rings-tiny.webp 1200w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091849\/Olympic-rings-tiny-300x199.webp 300w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091849\/Olympic-rings-tiny-1024x679.webp 1024w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091849\/Olympic-rings-tiny-768x509.webp 768w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091849\/Olympic-rings-tiny-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091849\/Olympic-rings-tiny-200x133.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26216\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A tattoo on Jessica L\u00f3pez&#8217; back commemorates three trips to the Olympics. Photo by Cyrus McCrimmon for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cShe was dealing with severe thickening of her tendons. Normally, they\u2019d be about a quarter-inch thick. Hers were about three inches thick because there was so much inflammation,\u201d Park said.<\/p>\n<p>Park teamed up with L\u00f3pez\u2019 doctor, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/provider\/joshua-metzl\/\">Joshua Metzl<\/a>, to give L\u00f3pez relief as fast as possible.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Alternatives to surgery: platelet-rich plasma and physical therapy <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Metzl, who is the chief orthopedic surgeon for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.coloradoballet.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Colorado Ballet<\/a> and an assistant team physician for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverbroncos.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Denver Broncos<\/a> and Colorado Rockies, wanted to avoid surgery for L\u00f3pez so she wouldn\u2019t have to be off her feet and could keep training.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26469\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26469\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-26469\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/12100913\/Jessica-Botanic-Gardens-tiny.webp\" alt=\"Olympic gymnast, Jessica L\u00f3pez, shows off a handstand at the Denver Botanic Gardens\" width=\"640\" height=\"459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/12100913\/Jessica-Botanic-Gardens-tiny.webp 1200w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/12100913\/Jessica-Botanic-Gardens-tiny-300x215.webp 300w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/12100913\/Jessica-Botanic-Gardens-tiny-1024x734.webp 1024w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/12100913\/Jessica-Botanic-Gardens-tiny-768x550.webp 768w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/12100913\/Jessica-Botanic-Gardens-tiny-150x108.webp 150w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/12100913\/Jessica-Botanic-Gardens-tiny-200x143.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26469\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Olympic gymnast, Jessica L\u00f3pez, has some fun at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Photo courtesy of Jessica L\u00f3pez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>So, he opted for a series of injections of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/treatments-procedures\/platelet-rich-plasma-prp-therapy\/\">platelet-rich plasma<\/a>, also known as PRP.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26465\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26465\" style=\"width: 216px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26465 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/12090511\/Dr.-Metzl-headshot.webp\" alt=\"Dr. Joshua Metzl\" width=\"216\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/12090511\/Dr.-Metzl-headshot.webp 307w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/12090511\/Dr.-Metzl-headshot-216x300.webp 216w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/12090511\/Dr.-Metzl-headshot-108x150.webp 108w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/12090511\/Dr.-Metzl-headshot-200x278.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 216px) 100vw, 216px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26465\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Joshua Metzl knew that Jessica L\u00f3pez needed to keep training for the Olympics, so avoided surgery and gave her relief for very sore Achilles tendons by using platelet-rich plasma or PRP instead.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For each injection, L\u00f3pez\u2019 team drew some of her blood, then spun it in a centrifuge to separate out the platelets from the white blood cells. Then, Metzl injected the plasma back into L\u00f3pez\u2019 Achilles to promote healing right at the site of her inflammation. Each treatment takes about an hour and is done right at the clinic.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe did really well and had complete resolution of her symptoms,\u201d Metzl said. \u201cPRP works really well for the Achilles. There\u2019s some evidence it might also help with arthritis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the PRP treatments, Park saw L\u00f3pez at least twice a week for physical therapy sessions whenever she was in Denver.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe worked to improve the tissue quality and range of motion. As her strength returned, we progressively loaded her calf and Achilles to allow her to land and push off again.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe got her to the point where she could run, tumble, land and dismount off the bars. That\u2019s a ton of load on her calves and Achilles,\u201d Park said.<\/p>\n<p>To make matters even more complicated, gymnasts must compete without shoes. If an athlete like a runner or a football player has a foot or calf injury, sports medicine experts can use devices like orthotics or heel lifts to give them comfort.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut, Jessica has to perform barefooted. She needs to control a much larger range of motion. She needs to be stronger. What elite-level gymnasts do is far beyond normal physiology,\u201d Park said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26266\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26266\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-26266\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130914\/Medal-ceremon-tiny.webp\" alt=\"Olympic gymnast Jessica L\u00f3pez at a medal ceremony\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130914\/Medal-ceremon-tiny.webp 1000w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130914\/Medal-ceremon-tiny-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130914\/Medal-ceremon-tiny-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130914\/Medal-ceremon-tiny-768x768.webp 768w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130914\/Medal-ceremon-tiny-200x200.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26266\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jessica L\u00f3pez during a medal ceremony at the Pan American Games in 2015. Photo courtesy of Jessica L\u00f3pez,<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Park, Metzl and L\u00f3pez\u2019 entire medical team cheered for her whenever she competed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHer success is 100% her doing. She\u2019s driven and dedicated and takes everything to the \u2018nth\u2019 degree. I was so grateful and proud to be a part of her journey,\u201d said Park.<\/p>\n<p>Added Metzl: \u201cShe\u2019s a pleasure to be around. She\u2019s one of these people who has a positive impact on everyone she meets\u2026.She\u2019s fierce and focused.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Metzl considers himself lucky to treat Olympians, professional athletes and regular folks alike.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe give world-class care to everyone. We\u2019re thrilled when all our patients do well and get to return to activities they love.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Nothing like that Olympic moment<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>L\u00f3pez was especially grateful that her medical team gave her maximum relief with minimal disruption to her training.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHonestly, I\u2019m very stubborn. I didn\u2019t used to go to the doctor until I absolutely had to go. My Achilles was so bad that I couldn\u2019t even walk or do floor routines. That\u2019s when I decided I had to go,\u201d L\u00f3pez said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26267\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26267\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-26267\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130916\/Mt.-Democrat-tinyjpg.webp\" alt=\"Olympic gymnast Jessica L\u00f3pez at the top of a 14er with her boyfriend and her dog.\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130916\/Mt.-Democrat-tinyjpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130916\/Mt.-Democrat-tinyjpg-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130916\/Mt.-Democrat-tinyjpg-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130916\/Mt.-Democrat-tinyjpg-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130916\/Mt.-Democrat-tinyjpg-150x113.webp 150w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/04130916\/Mt.-Democrat-tinyjpg-200x150.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26267\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jessica L\u00f3pez competed in the Olympics for Venezuela, but long has called Colorado home. She loves the Colorado mountains. Here she poses at the top of a 14er with her boyfriend and beloved dog, Forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Then, she found warmth, support and tremendous physical relief.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery time I went in, they were very kind. They know you<span style=\"text-decoration: line-through\">r<\/span> by name. They know you personally. \u00a0They make you feel special,\u201d L\u00f3pez said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26215\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26215\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-26215\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091845\/Olympic-jacket-tiny.webp\" alt=\"Jessica L\u00f3pez wearing her jacket from the Rio Olympics\" width=\"640\" height=\"442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091845\/Olympic-jacket-tiny.webp 1200w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091845\/Olympic-jacket-tiny-300x207.webp 300w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091845\/Olympic-jacket-tiny-1024x707.webp 1024w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091845\/Olympic-jacket-tiny-768x530.webp 768w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091845\/Olympic-jacket-tiny-150x104.webp 150w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091845\/Olympic-jacket-tiny-200x138.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26215\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jessica L\u00f3pez wearing one of her jackets from the Olympics. Photo by Cyrus McCrimmon for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThe expertise in sport medicine is second to none. There was not one day I walked out of Steadman Hawkins without feeling better, physically and emotionally. The atmosphere is very positive, and everyone is passionate and caring.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26214\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26214\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-26214\" src=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091842\/Leotard-tiny.webp\" alt=\"A gymnastics leotard designed by Olympic gymnast, Jessica L\u00f3pez\" width=\"300\" height=\"208\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091842\/Leotard-tiny.webp 1200w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091842\/Leotard-tiny-300x208.webp 300w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091842\/Leotard-tiny-1024x709.webp 1024w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091842\/Leotard-tiny-768x532.webp 768w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091842\/Leotard-tiny-150x104.webp 150w, https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/09\/03091842\/Leotard-tiny-200x139.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26214\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jessica L\u00f3pez has her own brand for gymnastics attire. Photo by UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s amazing to have a team that cares so much about you and wants to make you feel better,\u201d L\u00f3pez said.<\/p>\n<p>Time will tell what L\u00f3pez decides to do in the future. If you see her in the gym, you might spot two clues. She wears a necklace with a four-leaf clover, a symbol of good luck. And, on her back, she has a tattoo of the colorful Olympic rings.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps she\u2019ll take her talents to Tokyo and compete once again for a medal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve competed hundreds of times and I\u2019ve won hundreds of meets, including the World Cup. But there\u2019s nothing like that moment at the Olympics. It was so special. You train so much. You sacrifice so much. You overcome so much. It takes an army of people to help you get there. There\u2019s all the struggle and all the joy. You live for that moment.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The gymnast flies through the air on the uneven bars at the Rio Olympics, pirouettes, twists, releases, blindly grabs the bars behind her, and for a second, holds a perfect handstand, her long legs towering high above the bars in a moment of pure beauty and athleticism. Then, Jessica L\u00f3pez dismounts, nails the landing, and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2123,"featured_media":26213,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[1593,80,2792,183,110,3681,2888],"class_list":["post-26201","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-innovative-care","tag-colorado-rockies","tag-denver-broncos","tag-olympics","tag-orthopedics","tag-physical-therapy","tag-uchealth-steadman-hawkins-clinic-denver","tag-university-of-denver"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - 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