The Comeback Continues - Why RPS Nationals Wasn’t a Failure

This past weekend at RPS Nationals didn’t go the way I had planned. On my final deadlift warmup, I felt that dreaded pop in my bicep. Just like that, the meet was over. It looks like a partial tear, and I have an MRI scheduled for Friday to confirm, but even with that setback, I don’t see this meet as a failure. Not even close.

This was my first time back on the platform since tearing my pec and undergoing surgery in August of 2023. That alone was a long road and many months of rehab, rebuilding strength, and learning how to trust my body again. And that wasn’t the only battle I faced. Last summer, I also underwent hernia repair surgery. Two surgeries in twelve months is a lot to come back from, and the process tested me mentally, physically, and emotionally. But I made it back.

I made it through a full meet prep. I trained hard. I put in the work, every single day. And when meet day came, I showed up prepared. I hit a solid squat and a meet PR bench. Yeah, I didn’t total, but I returned to the platform, something that, at one point, I wasn’t sure would happen again. That alone makes this meet a success in my eyes.

As a coach, I’ve always believed in leading from the front. Going through these injuries has only strengthened that belief. I’ve now experienced firsthand what it takes to rehab not just one, but two major injuries. I know the frustration, the doubts, the setbacks, and the small wins that slowly add up. I know what it feels like to question whether your best days are behind you, and I know the feeling of proving to yourself that they’re not.

This crazy journey has given me a deeper level of empathy and understanding for my athletes, for anyone going through rehab, and for anyone who’s had to fight their way back from something tough. I’ve lived it and unfortunately, I’m still living it but because of that, I can speak to the process with honesty, clarity, and belief that it’s possible to come out stronger.

If you’re going through something hard right now whether it be an injury, burnout, or self doubt, this is your reminder that it’s not over. You might be down, but you’re not done. I’ve been there, and I’m still here. Still fighting. Still showing up. Still chasing the comeback.

If I can do it, you can too. Let’s keep going. The mission stays the same, come back stronger.

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