Rory Guilday's Road to Olympic Redemption
In a stunning turn of events, 23-year-old defender Rory Guilday has been named to the US women's hockey team for the Olympics. Just last year, she was cut from the national team after being deemed a healthy scratch for the world championship-winning squad. But Guilday refused to give up on her dreams.
After battling an optic nerve glioma and undergoing nine months of chemotherapy that left her with limited vision in one eye, Guilday had to relearn how to play hockey. Her recovery was nothing short of remarkable, as she adapted to a new reality where her body could no longer rely on the same instincts that once defined her on the ice.
"It's just part of who I am these days," Guilday says with a sense of perspective and resilience. "Chemotherapy is not something that's enjoyable... it's really hard on the body and soul, too."
The experience had a profound impact on Guilday's game, forcing her to mature as a player and trust her instincts even more. Her coach, John Wroblewski, praises her growth, saying "it was just a little bit of maturation in her defensive instincts." The result is a confident and fearless player who has earned her spot on the Olympic roster.
Guilday's journey is one of hope and determination, reminding us that with hard work and perseverance, we can overcome even the toughest challenges. Now, as she prepares to take the ice alongside her teammates for the first time at the Olympics, Guilday is grateful for the lessons she learned along the way โ especially the importance of appreciating every moment when you're able to play.
"I lost a ton of my strength in my body," she recalls, "Skating was my identity as a hockey player when I was younger... So when I started chemotherapy, and I would step onto the ice, and I felt like I couldnโt hold myself up with my ankles, that was super devastating."
But Guilday's courage and resilience have inspired her family, friends, and fans. Her whole family is coming to Italy for the Olympics, having booked travel after learning she made the team.
"It makes you really appreciate when you do get to play," Guilday says with a smile, as she prepares to shine on the biggest stage of all.
In a stunning turn of events, 23-year-old defender Rory Guilday has been named to the US women's hockey team for the Olympics. Just last year, she was cut from the national team after being deemed a healthy scratch for the world championship-winning squad. But Guilday refused to give up on her dreams.
After battling an optic nerve glioma and undergoing nine months of chemotherapy that left her with limited vision in one eye, Guilday had to relearn how to play hockey. Her recovery was nothing short of remarkable, as she adapted to a new reality where her body could no longer rely on the same instincts that once defined her on the ice.
"It's just part of who I am these days," Guilday says with a sense of perspective and resilience. "Chemotherapy is not something that's enjoyable... it's really hard on the body and soul, too."
The experience had a profound impact on Guilday's game, forcing her to mature as a player and trust her instincts even more. Her coach, John Wroblewski, praises her growth, saying "it was just a little bit of maturation in her defensive instincts." The result is a confident and fearless player who has earned her spot on the Olympic roster.
Guilday's journey is one of hope and determination, reminding us that with hard work and perseverance, we can overcome even the toughest challenges. Now, as she prepares to take the ice alongside her teammates for the first time at the Olympics, Guilday is grateful for the lessons she learned along the way โ especially the importance of appreciating every moment when you're able to play.
"I lost a ton of my strength in my body," she recalls, "Skating was my identity as a hockey player when I was younger... So when I started chemotherapy, and I would step onto the ice, and I felt like I couldnโt hold myself up with my ankles, that was super devastating."
But Guilday's courage and resilience have inspired her family, friends, and fans. Her whole family is coming to Italy for the Olympics, having booked travel after learning she made the team.
"It makes you really appreciate when you do get to play," Guilday says with a smile, as she prepares to shine on the biggest stage of all.