A run of unfortunate injuries has put the career of 2014 Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacs Champion Belinda Hocking in doubt, according to comments she made to Australia’s Herald Sun this week.
First, she earned some second-degree burns on three fingers as a result of a studying accident. Candles in room caught her clothes on fire, and after she thought that she had put the fire out, she discovered that a spot on her stomach was still hot enough to reignite and melt the clothing material to her fingers.
Upon returning to the pool, she dislocated her knee. Shortly thereafter, she rear-ended a truck at 50 km/hr (30 mi/hr), and hit her head on the steering wheel of her car.
“When I crashed the car it scared me, I just needed to take some time off to rest and recover,” Hocking said to the Herald Sun. “I just need to rejuvenate myself and be ready to come back and swim fast.”
She stopped short of calling it a full retirement, and that she may swim on to a Gold-Coast-hosted 2018 Commonwealth Games, but for now is going to focus on other work options that could set her up for the long-term, like event management, PR, and primary education.
The two-time Olympian Hocking finished 2014 as the #1-ranked 200 long course meter backstroker in the world by more than a second. She won silver medals in the 200 back at both the 2011 and 2013 World Championships, and in total has 9 career medals from major international meets (World Championships, Pan Pacs, and Commonwealth Games).
2014 LCM Women 200 Back TYR World Ranking
HOCKING
2.06.40
| 2 | Emily SEEBOHM | AUS | 2.07.61 | 08/23 |
| 3 | Daria K USTINOVA | RUS | 2.08.02 | 05/13 |
| 4 | Meagen NAY | AUS | 2.08.19 | 01/17 |
| 5 | Elizabeth BEISEL | USA | 2.08.33 | 08/23 |
AMEN…we’ll said and not said enough.
Franklin wasnt even in the top 5!!!
It’s never pleasant to read about somebody having their career curtailed/side-lined by accidents and one hopes Ms Hocking has a full recovery irrespective of any return to competition.
What are the ramifications of her likely absence from AUS backstroke ranks ? At various points she has been the next best behind Franklin over 200, albeit at some distance. Nay has had a similar career span and has been a regular “major event” finalist at this distance but has never broken 2.07. She was ruled out of CommGames by injury and has yet to surface during the current season so her future may be doubtful.
Seebohm has traditionally favoured the 100 but with Nay’s enforced absence in 2014, was given… Read more »
Wow… Too bad for her. However, it’s great that she is mature enough to see past swimming in terms of her life goals, and use the setback to pursue a career. Too many swimmers get caught chasing the dream and forget to prepare a post-athletics plan
Amen to that ^