Lothrop Suffers Achilles Tear

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Yesterday, Corrie Lothrop, one of three alternates to the 2008 Olympic Team and one of the most upbeat athletes in any gym, was a favorite for the 2009 U.S. Championships; featured in Inside’s upcoming Nationals Preview issue as one of our, “Ten You’ll Be Talking About.”

Today, Lothrop is awaiting surgery to repair the Achilles she tore performing on floor last evening during a routine training session.

The first hint that something had gone wrong came from Lothrop herself, who posted a cryptic message on Twitter @corbear326 at about 8 PM last night. “What a sad, sad day,” Lothrop wrote just hours after the injury occurred. “You never know how much you love to do something until it’s gone.

“[My coach] Kelli (Hill) didn’t think, by the way my foot looked, that I tore it; it didn’t look like a complete tear,” Lothrop elaborated for Inside. “But when I got to the hospital it was completely torn, so Kelli and I [both] were kind of shocked to hear that. I guess I’m still kind of in shock about it all.”

But despite this significant setback—Lothrop will be unable to compete at this weekend’s Classic or next month’s U.S. Championships as planned, but still hopes to attend the latter as a spectator and participate in some USAG activities—Lothrop’s positive perspective remains intact.

“It’s just kind of starting to sink in,” Lothrop told Inside early this afternoon. “I really never thought anything this big would happen to me, like, ever. But I’m sure I’ll be able to come back and start working on rehab and I should be fine. I’m pretty sure I’ll be good.”

That sunny side up perspective says a lot about Lothrop and her view of the world. Speaking to Inside earlier this month about her experience as an alternate, Lothrop was enthusiastic, expressing none of the Olympic-sized disappointment other athletes suffered in missing the team.

“I know it was hard for Ivana (Hong) and Jana (Bieger),” Lothrop told Inside. “I know how hard they worked, and how much they wanted it, but for me it was just amazing. I was just so happy to be there. I got so much experience out of it. It was my first year as a senior and the entire [selection process] was just so much fun. I mean, I had hardly ever been out of the country, and here I was an Olympic alternate.”

Lothrop’s easygoing attitude is even better exemplified by what she did after the Games began and her duties as alternate were fulfilled.

She and her family headed from Japan (where the 2008 alternates trained) to China, where they went to Beijing, but didn’t stop to watch the Games.

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