England's netball star Eleanor Cardwell has returned to the sport after a career-threatening knee injury, just seven months after being told she may never play again.
The 31-year-old England shooter was forced into early retirement after suffering another severe knee injury during a training session in Australia while playing for Melbourne Mavericks. Cardwell had snapped one meniscus and suffered a full root detachment of her lateral meniscus during a three-match series against Australia in October last year.
"I just thought, I'm not finished, I don't feel like I'm finished, but my netball career is over," she said after feeling the pain again. The athlete had undergone surgery to repair the damage, but that only provided temporary relief.
Cardwell's recovery was smooth until a recent training session when she felt a cartilage injury again, prompting her to seek medical attention once more. After further scans, it became clear that the damage to her knee was fixable, and Cardwell underwent additional surgery and rehabilitation.
Despite being advised against playing due to the risk of further injury, Cardwell has always been determined to continue pursuing her passion for netball. "The loneliness overwhelmed me," she said about her experience in Australia while rehabbing. Having spent the majority of her Netball Super League (NSL) career with Manchester Thunder, who she calls 'family,' Cardwell is now back in England's squad as they prepare for a three-match series against New Zealand.
Cardwell believes that returning to Australia has made sense for her and her career, allowing her to reconnect with the sport. "I wouldn't say I'm finished in the SSN (Suncorp Super Netball). I feel like it's a bittersweet ending," she said about leaving the league after spending most of her NSL career with Mavericks.
For now, Cardwell is focused on her current role for England and hopes that her place will be secured. "I'm really hoping my time will come," she stated.
The 31-year-old England shooter was forced into early retirement after suffering another severe knee injury during a training session in Australia while playing for Melbourne Mavericks. Cardwell had snapped one meniscus and suffered a full root detachment of her lateral meniscus during a three-match series against Australia in October last year.
"I just thought, I'm not finished, I don't feel like I'm finished, but my netball career is over," she said after feeling the pain again. The athlete had undergone surgery to repair the damage, but that only provided temporary relief.
Cardwell's recovery was smooth until a recent training session when she felt a cartilage injury again, prompting her to seek medical attention once more. After further scans, it became clear that the damage to her knee was fixable, and Cardwell underwent additional surgery and rehabilitation.
Despite being advised against playing due to the risk of further injury, Cardwell has always been determined to continue pursuing her passion for netball. "The loneliness overwhelmed me," she said about her experience in Australia while rehabbing. Having spent the majority of her Netball Super League (NSL) career with Manchester Thunder, who she calls 'family,' Cardwell is now back in England's squad as they prepare for a three-match series against New Zealand.
Cardwell believes that returning to Australia has made sense for her and her career, allowing her to reconnect with the sport. "I wouldn't say I'm finished in the SSN (Suncorp Super Netball). I feel like it's a bittersweet ending," she said about leaving the league after spending most of her NSL career with Mavericks.
For now, Cardwell is focused on her current role for England and hopes that her place will be secured. "I'm really hoping my time will come," she stated.
... i mean, 7 months is crazy quick recovery time! 
and honestly, i feel like the layout of her comeback story needs some work 
. it's all over the place, jumping from one piece of info to another without any clear transitions or headings. a simple timeline would've been super helpful 
. also, why are there so many quotes from Cardwell? some of them feel like they're just listing off her thoughts instead of really telling us what she's trying to say 
. and what's up with the formatting on that last paragraph? it looks like a mess 
It's like, what if she does get hurt again? 
Only time will tell! 
Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it 
. You can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-living the last one 
. Eleanor Cardwell's story is an inspiration to anyone who has faced setbacks in their sports career 
️.
i mean the girl was literally told she'd never play again but still managed to get back on track with some more surgery & rehab... that's dedication fam 
gotta respect her for putting in the work & fighting for her passion 
. btw, i hope she can make a successful return to netball without any major setbacks 
. i think it's awesome that she's still got a lot to offer in the sport, and i'm rooting for her to make a comeback in England 
! 
! I mean who needs a knee when you're determined to smash it back into shape? 
7 months from being told she'd never play again and now she's back in England's squad? that's like me promising myself I'll eat more veggies if I finish this Netflix show... and then binge-watching the whole thing in one night 
. Seriously though, netball is all about perseverance (and a strong knee surgeon 
)
Eleanor Cardwell's comeback story is so inspiring! She's like a phoenix rising from the ashes after facing two career-threatening injuries 
. I'm rooting for her all the way, hope she can stay injury-free and continue to shine on the court 
and guess what? she came back swinging 
️ not just that, she even got a second chance with england 
the thing is, netball's not just about the sport, it's also about the family you find in it 
and cardwell found her tribe with the manchester thunder crew 
but now she's ready to shine again 
can't wait to see what she accomplishes! 
cant wait to see her play again tho, shes def an icon in the sport! 
. Cardwell's had two major setbacks already and now she's trying to make a comeback? What's next, her team going to start playing with duct tape and hopes? 
I'm all for competition and sportsmanship, but let's be real, the risk of further injury is way too high. And what about her mental health? She was talking about feeling lonely while rehabbing in Australia... that sounds like a recipe for burnout. 
I wish her the best, but I'll believe it when she's not on the field with a cast on 
. But she's always been super determined and now she's back in England's squad, ready to take on New Zealand 
. Her comeback story is definitely one for the ages! 
I'm loving how focused she is on securing her place in the team right now... fingers crossed for her! 
! She's been through so much & it's amazing she's decided to chase her dreams again 
, especially when you consider all the setbacks she's faced - cartilage injuries & all that rehab stuff 
She went through so much, but she never gave up on her dreams 
. But now, she's all about being part of England's squad again, and that's awesome to see 
I wish she'd think twice before rushing back into this high-impact sport. Maybe she should consider alternative roles within the team?