a student Athlete’s Recovery From Injury
Meekness Dogonyaro prepared for training while recovering from injuries that affected both her athletic and mental health performance. Photo by Ovedje Gift.
What began as an injury was supposed to be temporary. A setback. Something Meekness Dogonyaro could push through with enough effort and discipline. Instead, it became something much more difficult to control.
“I was training and things kept getting worse,” Dogonyaro said. “I was supposed to rest, but I kept running.”
Many student-athletes like Dogonyaro had been conditioned to push past discomfort. Pain, after all, is often part of the process. Student-athletes frequently experience both physical and academic pressure; and the emotional toll of balancing those demands can become overwhelming. For many, being an athlete is not just an activity it is a core part of their identity.
However, this time, the more she pushed, the further she got from recovery. Dogonyaro had just returned from Nigeria after being diagnosed with malaria.
“I had malaria after coming back from Nigeria,” Dogonyaro said. “I was hospitalized for three days. I couldn't recover fully before resuming training.”
Shortly after recovering from malaria she got a COVID diagnosis. According to Dogonyaro the hardest part was being diagnosed with COVID and still competing as well.
“The hardest part was having COVID and hamstring pain—and also not recovering at all,” Dogonyaro said. “I was meant to train and the more I trained, things keep getting worse.”
Student athletes have to be fully recovered from illness or any kind of injury before returning to competition as pushing too soon can lead to further setback or re-injury. Due to the lack of recovery from the indoor season, Dogonyaro decided to take the outdoor season to recover fully which led to the withdrawal from the team.
“I believe I was not heard, I was not listened to,” Dogonyaro said. “It was difficult. I was exhausting myself mentally, physically, and emotionally so I felt like it hurt a lot.”
After withdrawing from the team, Dogonyara battled with different challenges.
By Ovedje Gift 9/9/2026
Dr. Steve Nicholas, athletic counselor at the University of Nevada, Reno, discusses the emotional and psychological impact injuries can have on student athletes. Photo by Ovedje Gift.
For many student-athletes, injuries are not just physical setbacks. They disrupt identity, routine, and purpose. At the college level, where sports often define daily life, being sidelined can feel like losing a part of oneself.
“When an athlete’s body becomes injured, the reality they’ve been working with changes,” said Dr. Steve Nicholas, a counselor who works with student-athletes. “They’ve been working with a healthy body, and now it does not work the same.”
This shift can take a significant mental toll. According to Nicholas, many athletes struggle because they compare who they are now to who they used to be.
“Their identity in sports can sometimes be too large,” Nicholas said. “Too significant, and therefore too heavy.”
Student-athletes need more encouragement to use the same process that became a successful student athlete. But in the capacity of rehabilitating and becoming healthy. So usually their mental health or their thoughts are impacted because a situation does not meet their efforts and expectations.
“I encourage them to use the same process that makes them become a successful student athlete.” Nicholas said.
“So usually their mental health or their thoughts are impacted because a situation does not meet their efforts and expectations,” Nicholas said. “So they have to adjust those.”
Mackay Stadium, University of Nevada, Reno. Photo by Monica Moran.
Injuries vary widely, from minor setbacks to season-ending damage. Sports medicine physician, Nicole Clifton points to serious risks such as hamstring tears or ACL injuries.
“You might think you’re better, go back too soon, and then tear it again,” Clifton said.
Recovery timelines are unpredictable. A simple ankle injury could heal in minutes or take weeks. But rushing that process can make things worse.
“The biggest risk is re-injury,” Clifton said. “Or injuring another part of the body that’s compensating.”
Nicole Clifton sits in her office at the sports medicine department. Where she helps student athletes recover from injuries and avoid long-term damage. Photo by Ovedje Gift.
The pressure to return from within
Track and field coach, Scott Williamson says many athletes feel responsible for contributing to their team, even when they’re not fully healthy.
“I think that pressure is something athletes put on themselves,” Williamson said. “They want to help the team and be contributors.”
In some cases athletes may still compete with less strength, which can create difficult decisions for both athletes and coaches.
“They want to contribute,” said track and field coach, Scott Williamson. “They want to help the team so I’m sure they feel pressure, even if they’re not 100%.”
Athletic trainer Joe Shew Dean sees the consequences of overuse injuries regularly, especially in track and field.
“I see repetitive injuries, shin splints, knee pain, Achilles pain,” Shew said. “Athletes are constantly using their bodies to achieve their goals.”
That pressure to return quickly is something coaches and trainers constantly manage.
“It’s definitely dangerous,” said athletic trainer Joe Shew. “Returning too quickly can make the injury worse or cause another injury.”
Athletic trainer Joe Shew Dean treats a student athlete's shin injury after a training session at the University of Nevada athletic facility. Photo by Ovedje Gift.
Beyond athletics, injuries can also impact academics.
Associate professor Jennifer Kent discusses the academic challenges student athletes face when leaving for competition. Photo by Ovedje Gift.
Student-athletes frequently miss class due to competitions, sometimes up to five times a semester, according to Jennifer Kent, an associate professor.
“They’re missing what could be two classes worth of information,” Kent said. “There are discussions and experiences that just can’t be recreated.”
Despite that, she noted that student-athletes are often among the most motivated students in her classes.
“They are typically very engaged and perform at a high level,” Kent said. “They know their performance affects more than just their grade; it can impact their ability to compete.”
In the end, recovery is not always about getting back to where you were, it's about adapting to where you are now.