As the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi come to a close, local physiotherapist Chris Miller returns home with great memories.
A senior staff member at Sungod Sports and Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Clinics, Miller has worked with Canada Snowboarding for the past eight years, an affiliation that has taken her to FIS World Cup events around the world, including Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and, now, Russia.
As a team physiotherapist at the Winter Olympics, Miller lived in Canada House with the athletes, coaches and doctors.
"I would address any physical concerns, including chronic problems and acute injuries," she said. "I would also attend each training session and competition on the mountain prepared to address any physical issues like muscle cramps or taping needs."
Miller was part of a select team of coaches, doctors, therapists and physiologists that worked with the six Canadian snowboarders competing in Sochi.
Specifically, she was assigned to work with the halfpipe athletes, who launch themselves in the air to do flips, turns and other tricks, which, if they go wrong, can sometimes result in fractures, separations and bruises.
When not busy working with the athletes, Miller enjoyed the Mountain Athlete Village with its colourful display of national banners and flags.
"The streets were full of team members with their respective outfits and dozens of smiling volunteers ready to help," she said.
Back at Canada House, Miller said it was fun getting to know athletes from different sports and hearing about their experiences.
She said with TVs throughout Canada House, it was common to suddenly hear shouts and cheering erupt somewhere in the building.
