The Inspirational 2019 Year of Devon Williams
Throughout any athlete's career, they are sure to be faced with some form of adversity. Adversity can come in many different forms, but one of the most common types is injury. This was the case for me in 2019 (and 2018 for that matter).
In 2018, I was unable to compete during the season due to fractured sesamoid bones in my big toe. The recovery process didn't require surgery, so I spent the rest of my 2018 season rehabbing the toe and practicing the events that didn't cause pain (I threw a lot of discus).
It's January of 2019 and I am feeling great ahead of the season. Excited to get back to competition after close to a year of rehab, I have my first indoor meet. This was also the first meet that I've had to travel to by myself as a professional. I'm entered in the shot put, pole vault, and the hurdles. Now, if you've ever been a multi-event person before, you've witnessed first-hand the struggle of being entered in multiple events and having to bounce back and forth between them due to how they were scheduled. This was the case for me. The prelims for the hurdles were happening the same time as the men's pole vault. So, I take a couple of approaches in the pole vault, and then change my shoes and head to the starting line for the hurdles. After the race, I jog back to the pole vault, change shoes, and get back in line to finish warming up. It's always a good idea to check your step in the pole vault, especially when you've just run in a race, because after the race your body is more warmed up and prepared to run fast. Because I didn't have much warm up time left, I decided to go from the same mark that I went from before I went to run hurdles and plant the pole. Because I was running faster now, my steps were off, and when I planted the pole, there wasn't enough momentum to carry the pole into the pit. So, I am stuck in the air and the pole starts to move backwards towards the runway. I let go of the pole hoping to land gracefully on my feet like they say cats do. I land on my feet and I see stars on impact. I get up and try walking it off. I sit down for about 5 minutes, and when I stand up I can no longer put any pressure at all on my left foot. I withdraw from the competition and need to be helped to the training tables where they loan me crutches to use for the night. Luckily, the hotel I'm staying in that night was across the parking lot from the venue, but unluckily I was in another state by myself on crutches.
I pick up some Popeyes and decide to hop my way up 3 flights of stairs on one leg with a whole meal in a bag, a drink in my hand, and my arms through the crutches (my room was right by the stairs okay). I eat my food and then as I'm sitting watching TV, I decide that there is no way I will be able to sleep with my foot throbbing this way. So I pack all of my things, go check out at the front desk and give the crutches back, and head home at about 12am. My foot throbbed for the entire 3 hour drive from Alabama to Georgia.
When I got back, I was given a boot, a better pair of crutches, and within a few days was on my way to get an MRI. The MRI showed that I had fractured my calcaneus (fancy word for heel bone) and would need to rest for 6-8 weeks. I was relieved that I would not need surgery, but frustrated because this was my first time back after missing out on a season in 2018 that I was looking forward to. I felt like I was unlucky and like bad things were meant to happen to me. After a few weeks, I started feeling more optimistic though. I realized that 6-8 weeks really was not that long. It was January, and my main goal for the year was to qualify for the world championships in Doha Qatar. I knew that U.S. championships were in July and the world championships weren't until October. So I had time to heal, and get back to work to get ready for those meets. I would be remiss if I didn't mention Mike Dillion, my physical therapist in 2019. He was patient with me and I was confident in his ability to help me get healthy and strong again. Numerous MRI's later to check the progress of the bone, and I was cleared to return to activities.
Now, it's the week of U.S. championships. I am in great shape, and feel ready to compete soon. It's Wednesday, and the last pole vault practice before we leave for the meet. I'm feeling great. I charge down the runway, plant the pole, and it snaps into three pieces! This was my first time ever snapping a pole, and first time seeing one snap in three. One of the pieces somehow slices my back and now I have to go to the emergency room to get stitches. Remember, this was the last time I would pole vault before the meet!
Most people would think I would be nervous to vault again, especially this being the second pole vault incident of the year. But I was actually excited to vault again. I still felt great, and was happy with how I had been vaulting in practice. I end up not only vaulting well, but clearing a personal best and pole vault milestone of 5 meters, while also winning the U.S. decathlon title and securing my spot to Doha.
The reason I wanted to tell this story is because it is the pure representation of what MeVsMe stands for and what the MVM Crown symbolizes. It's looking in the eyes of adversity and knowing that not only will you not be beat, but you will come out on the other side stronger. It's allowing the threat of adversity to feed your fire. It's never giving up. The year of 2019 (and 2018 for that matter) reinforces the reason I wanted to create this brand. Athletes aren't the only people who face adversity. Everyone is on their own journey. My hope is that someone reading this will be inspired to allow their own adversity in their life to push them to be their greatest self. Because that's what it really means to be a High Reacher.