Champion Cyclist Injured While Playing His Wii

Posted Dec 12, 2008 1:55PM By Wina Sturgeon (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Biking

Mark Cavendish has set a lot of British records. He won four stages of the Tour de France this year, the best ever results by a British cyclist. He's won gold medals at numerous European races, including the World championship Madison, the Commonwealth Games Scratch Race, and won two stages of the Giro d'Italia this year.

Bizarre Injuries

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MLS

But put him on a Wii platform to play a snowboard game, and he becomes a danger to himself -- and any furniture that happens to be nearby.

Cavendish was playing the snowboard game (no reports on whether it was Shaun White's new game), when he got a little too into it. While rocking with his feet and thumbs, he sliped off the platform substituting for a snowboard, fell and injured his calf muscle.

Now that takes some doing! The injury hurt a cyclists most important muscle (though in any kind of bike riding, all the muscles are important). But for road racers, the calf is used hard in every pedal stroke, both pressing down and pulling up.

Cavendish was supposed to go out and train on his bike after the game; but the calf injury meant he couldn't ride. This is not a good thing, because even in cycling's off season, riders on his level can't allow one smidgen of their fitness to evaporate by slacking on their training. He rides for Team Columbia, and the team has scheduled a training camp in Majorca for later this month. Cavendish, fairly new to the elite peleton and Columbia's top sprinter, will be expected to attend.

"It's a bother," he said, downplaying the injury. But he expects to get the best sports medicine care and be back in the saddle by Christmas. However, for the rest of his life, Cavendish will be known as the guy who got hurt playing Wii.

Did You See That?

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Stefan Guay, of Canada, is seen during the Alpine FIS Ski World Cup. Men's Giant Slalom on December 07, 2008 in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

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Vincent Vittoz, of France, in action as he helps his team take 3rd place in the FIS Men's Relay 4x10Km Nordic World Cup event on December 7, 2008 in La Clusaz, France

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A dog crosses in front of Swiss skier Anna Fenninger as she nears the finish line in the FIS World Cup Women's Slalom in Aspen, Colorado, November 30, 2008.

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Athletes compete in the NSW Wavesailing Series event "WindSurfNSnow Goin' Off" at Windang Beach on November 23, 2008 in Gerroa, Australia.

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Kekoa Bacalso of Hawaii competes in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing event, the Reef Hawaiian Pro on at Ali'i Beach Park on November 22, 2008 in Haleiwa, Hawaii. Bacalso opened with a near perfect 9.00 ride and held the heat lead until the half way mark when he surpassed by both up Jihad Khodr of Brazil and overall winner Michel Bourez of Tahiti forcing him to settle for a third place finish.

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

12-13-2008 @ 8:22AM

Mark said...

Actually WIna, the calf muscle is not the most important muscle that a bike racer uses, far from it actually. The calf muscle is used only to stabilize the ankle during the pedal stroke. The important muscles in the leg that come into play are those in the thigh, and the hamstrings. To be quite technical, the core muscles are far more important as they allow the bike racer to comfortably (no perineum pressure and proper form) get to the end of the race so the sprint (Cavendish's specialty) can play out.

Also, in the cycling off-season the riders generally do take a month or so off and then pick their training back up a week or two before team camp. This allows their bodies and minds to recover from the stress of a long and difficult season and sets them up to be successful the following year. When Cavendish said, "It's a bother," he meant just that. It's an annoying bump and he might miss one or two training rides because of it. A minor annoyance, but not something that will even remotely affect his season.

12-13-2008 @ 9:09AM

CC said...

O.k...can we say..."DUH!!!!" I feel for the guy, but what a klutz.

12-13-2008 @ 2:00PM

Hope said...

He was injured while playing with his Wii? I thought you could only go blind doing this? :) Have a great day!

12-13-2008 @ 9:34AM

Lynnette said...

Dang, we are getting on for Christmas too...LOL!!!!! Might get bowling elbow.

12-13-2008 @ 12:38PM

Vince said...

Wrink, where did you get the idea that the people who write these articles are 'professional journalists'? Good luck finding a real 'writer' anywhere on the 'net.

12-14-2008 @ 12:54AM

R. Z. said...

Uh oh, does this mean Nintendo needs to add Idiot Proof Warings on its Wii?

12-14-2008 @ 12:26AM

Wink said...

sad thing is, they do.

12-14-2008 @ 12:30AM

Doug said...

Nothing is Idiot-Proof to a sufficiently motivated Idiot

12-13-2008 @ 4:34PM

Stu said...

Wrink- a little critical on the writer. It's not a piece from the NY Times for God sake. To much time on your hands?

12-13-2008 @ 10:15PM

Don Bair said...

In all fairness the Wi does come with a user clause,.......for morons like this guy! My advice to this guy,less Wi,more read! Even though he could kick my ass!

12-14-2008 @ 7:25PM

arandombmxer said...

lol retard

12-13-2008 @ 10:37PM

champcamp said...

Thank goodness for a game that makes people actually move, get some exercise, and maybe take a risk that might cause injury. Risk is part of life too. Mark Cavendish is not afraid of taking risks as his profession is dangerous. I'm going to buy a Wii for Christmas! He does stuff on his bike that would make most of us wet our pants... he's a true athlete, not a klutz... he was just shredding that game bigtime!

12-13-2008 @ 10:33PM

nate said...

looks like lance will have less competition this year....lol

12-14-2008 @ 2:01AM

tim said...

Mark said...,

there always has to be a freaking genius chiming in, wow im sure you think your the smartest guy in the world, do you think people really care about what you think, please go somewhere and try to show off with all that "knowledge"

12-14-2008 @ 2:39AM

Patt said...

That's why these games are called "virtual reality games", they are just that. When you play them, they are so much like the real thing! Not just ANYONE could even come close to being able to play them, and his getting hurt was an "accident" - anyone know what that means? Get your dictionary out!