The jet engine of energy that empowers cross-country skier Chandra Crawford is in need of a tune-up.
The Olympic gold medallist discovered recently she is suffering from a thyroid disorder and low iron levels, which are hindering her quest to compete in her third straight Olympic Games, which are now just four months away.
Despite training steadily for the past five months, Crawford didn’t see the results she needed to rejoin the Canadian national team after a roller ski treadmill test in September.
“I wasn’t seeing the results in early September, so I got to see the doctor,” Crawford said.
Doctors discovered she was suffering from hypothyroidism and extremely low iron, which was hindering her progress. Cross Country Canada has told her she can retest once her iron and thyroid levels have recovered.
“The national team has been amazing. High performance director Thom Holland has been so generous and supportive. Everyone in that office wants to help me. The national team has the gatekeeping resource role and said if anything goes wrong, come to us,” Crawford said.
Thyroid and iron issues are especially prevalent among female athletes. Iron deficiency reduces the amount of oxygen flowing to the muscles. Once Crawford’s resolved the problem, she’ll re-take the roller ski treadmill test in another attempt to rejoin the national team.
“I haven’t nailed down a date just yet. Cross Country Canada is being flexible and compassionate. They want me to succeed,” she said.
In Kelowna, B.C. for a mini-camp with her ski ninja teammates, Zoe Roy and Alana Thomas, Crawford said her energy is returning and she’s ready for snow. She’ll train on Frozen Thunder at the Canmore Nordic Centre after Oct. 19, and will compete in the annual Frozen Thunder sprint contest.
In the meantime, she’s spending more time working with her organization Fast and Female, and will host an event at the Canmore Nordic Centre on Oct. 20 between noon and 5 p.m., with special guest ambassador Sara Renner.
“Training is going steady right now. I’ve had a lot of consistent good work in all the right zones. I’m happy with it and doing what I can to stay healthy,” Crawford said.
Her troubles started in early January, when she dropped out of a 10 kilometre race and decided to cut her season short. She left skiing for three months, left the national team and took off on her own journey to re-ignite her love of skiing. The journey had many successes and failures, but through it all Crawford has remained steadfast in her journey.
She joined Thomas, Roy and Amanda Ammarr and trained in Canmore for the summer, learning more about herself.
“I learned a couple of things. Being in the community, there was time to stabilize. Routines are good for the health and the social support has been really good. I’ve been learning a few things from different therapists and psychologists to mine into why I do things and who I am, and how to make this season an expression of my dedication to skiing,” Crawford said.
“There is a Japanese proverb that says ‘fall down seven times, get up eight.’ It’s been interesting to do in an Olympic year. Parts are not easy and fun. It’s a struggle and growth process. I don’t know how it’s going to go, but I’d rather push on to the limit rather than quit.”
Crawford will share more of her journey in a Canmore Tedx talk at Silvertip on Oct. 25, where she’ll deliver her talk currently titled ‘How I lost my confidence.’
She’s remains philosophical in her comeback effort, at peace with what will come next.
“Failure is not the worse thing to happen. Not making an effort would be the worst thing,” Crawford said. “It’s a neat opportunity to find meaning in it all.”
