SHELLHARBOUR’S Josh King is slowly finding his way back in the water after a freak accident last year left him wondering if he would ever swim competitively again.
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The 17-year-old has recently returned to training and competing after recovering from serious leg injuries suffered during a jet ski collision last November.
‘‘I got a jet ski for my birthday last year and a few mates and I decided to ride up to Wollongong one day,’’ King said.
‘‘On the way back the swell picked up a bit and it started raining. One of my mates got some water in his eye and couldn’t see where he was going real well. He turned and ended up T-boning me and throwing me off and into the water.’’
The injuries caused in the accident left King unable to even go in the water, let alone compete or train.
‘‘The accident broke my femur and I grazed my lower leg and foot down to the muscle. When it first happened I was in the water and I couldn’t move my leg I wondered if I’d ever even walk again,’’ he said.
‘‘For the first few weeks after I couldn’t even go in the water. Swimming and being in the water is just something I’ve always loved.
‘‘I was pretty worried for a while that I’d never be able to compete again, but over the last month I’ve slowly been getting back into it.’’
A talented freestyle, butterfly and individual medley swimmer, King has been taking it slowly in his return to the pool. ‘‘It’s been pretty tough getting back into it after the best part of five months off. I was doing nine sessions a week; I’m only doing two now and I can really feel the difference in my fitness. I’m just focusing on building that back up at the moment.’’
While it’s been a tough road back for the Illawarra Grammar School student, King believes he’s slowly getting back to where he was before the accident and last weekend competed in the Wollongong Splash and Dash ocean swim.
‘‘I had a school competition a few weeks ago. I definitely didn’t feel as good as I have in the past, my fitness was definitely down but it was good to get back into it.
‘‘The Splash and Dash will be a good test and I’m slowly feeling like I’m on the way back to my best.’’