Laura Ludwig is at risk for missing the beginning of the 2017 FIVB beach season after undergoing shoulder surgery. In spite of the setback, she remains optimistic for the future.
In a recent Facebook post, Ludwig shared that her shoulder is already healing, including her supraspinatus tendon that was stitched during surgery. Additionally, she wrote about the new goal she set for 2017 emphasizing her positive outlook.
“The pain is gone and the diagnosis of the specialist was very positive: soon will be full again ‘Rinjehauen’ and our great goal nothing stands in the way: in Vienna is in August 2017 the world championship,” she said.
This shoulder setback isn’t the only challenge Ludwig has faced in her volleyball career though. In Ludwig’s U 18 World Championship, she had a mini stroke that taught her the importance of being self-sufficient.
“That was awful, frightening and shocking. It taught me very early on to listen to and look after my body,” she said.
Despite Ludwig’s setbacks, her positive mindset led her back on the court to dominate. She won gold medals in 2008 and 2010 at the Beach ECH (European Championships). In 2013 Ludwig and her partner Kira Walkenhorst also earned a bronze medal at the European beach volleyball championship, and a year later they earned a silver medal at the 2014 Beach ECH.
In the 2016 Swatch World Series, Ludwig was named “The Most Outstanding Player” and “Sportswoman of the Year” awards and became the first European women’s team to win an Olympic medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Ludwig will continue to rest her left shoulder and then start to prepare for the FIVB World Championships that begin on July 28.
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