At the 2011 World Cup in Beijing, China, cycling ace Njisane Phillip was competitively setback after he suffered a broken collarbone while contesting the Men’s Keirin event.
One year later next month, the fourth fastest male sprint cyclist in the world will finally get the opportunity to remove the steel brace that was put in to stabilise his shoulder. After sustaining his injury, Phillip was forced to sit out his Olympic qualifier campaign for approximately six months. However, with his fighting spirit, the 21-year-old still managed to claim an Olympic spot and soon became the fastest man in the western hemisphere.
With his surgery just under one month away, Phillip revealed that he is still unsure whether he would be removing the plate locally.
“Next month I’m actually going to head in to surgery. Sometime at the end of October, I just want to remove this plate in my shoulder. I’m not sure and I am still thinking about if I should do it down here (TT) or abroad, I haven’t decided as yet,” he stated.
During his first surgery, Phillip’s plate was screwed into his bone with a host of special medical tools.
To remove the plate will be a breath of fresh air for the cyclist, but he admitted that the healing process may take some painful weeks.
“It should be about seven to eight weeks recovery full time. There would still be little holes in the bones so it will take some time to fully recover,” he added.
Phillip Whiteman, step-father of the Siparia-bred rider, also stated that the healing process may take a bit longer than the first implantation of the plate.
“It will take some time for his bones to recover. This is because the holes need to be refilled. For the rest of the year he may not be taking part in any major competition. He needs to be fully recovered and clear of all injury. We’re not going to risk anything,” said Whiteman.
In the meantime, Phillip has opted to spend some quality time with his family and close friends among other things. From hosting the recent Njisane Phillip Junior Cycling Meet in Siparia and judging at the Miss Universe Trinidad and Tobago screening event over the weekend, the young rider is in need of a deserved rest after his historic Olympic effort. The 2012 Colorado Springs Men’s Sprint winner is hoping to use this “rest” time to share his knowledge to youths of the nation.
“I hope I’ve been a good role model for the kids in this country. I’d like to set a great example for younger ones. A lot of people didn’t think that I would make it this far in cycling, so I’ve shocked a lot of people. I definitely see myself as a role model for them. I just want them to know that they can work hard and they will be able to do and achieve what they want. They just have to increase their confidence and believe,” he continued.
By JONATHAN RAMNANANSINGH
Source: www.newsday.co.tt