Strongman Competitor Suffers Horrific Injury As His Kneecaps Dislocate During Final Discipline

His desire to win destroyed his health.

Filip

• Published in Interesting
• September 30, 2024

Strongman competition is a strength-based event that tests competitors' physical power through various challenges. These events often include tasks such as lifting heavy objects, carrying or dragging weights over distances, flipping large tires, and pulling vehicles.

Strongman competitions are designed to push athletes to their limits, focusing on both brute strength and endurance. The goal is to determine the strongest competitor across multiple disciplines that simulate real-world strength challenges.

But, as recently one of the participants of this event proved, these competitions can be very dangerous. So, the most important thing for participants is to prioritize their safety, know their limits, and listen to their boundaries.

If someone does not do so, they can get seriously injured. Earlier this month, Dan Jones participated in a Strongman competition in Southport, UK, where he performed exceptionally well and made it to the final.

The last event required him to carry an 80kg weight over a distance of 20 meters to the finish line. However, just moments before completing the task, Dan suffered a severe injury.

Footage from the competition shows Dan collapsing to the ground, and later, the full extent of his injuries became evident. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors discovered he had ruptured both patellar tendons, causing his kneecaps to shift upwards into his quadriceps.

After being given pain relief, Dan underwent a complex five-hour surgery to reattach his tendons. Without this operation, he would have faced significant challenges, as the patellar tendon connects the thigh muscle to the shin bone, playing a crucial role in movements such as walking and climbing stairs.

Although his future in competitions remains uncertain, his rehabilitation is reportedly progressing well.

"It was a freak accident," said Dan

Reflecting on the incident that occurred on September 1, Dan shared: "I was going into the last event in second place. If I had won this event, there was a chance I could have won my category, and if I had come second, I would have come second overall out of 16 people.

The guy that I was racing against was in first place at the time, so I was having to beat him, which is why I was going as fast as I could."

"I felt like I was on fire, my kneecaps were in my quads because my tendons ruptured," explained Dan

He continued: "It was a freak accident. We're still not 100 percent sure how it happened.

After slowing down the video with doctors and surgeons, it looks like my right knee patellar tendon snaps out of nowhere, which causes my leg to fold underneath me. I felt like I was on fire, my kneecaps were in my quads because my tendons ruptured."

Dan had an internal brace placed in both legs during the surgery to aid his recovery and is now undergoing daily physiotherapy sessions. "The surgeon has said it could be the end of all the Strongman competitions, but it's a case-by-case basis," explained Dan.

He added, "It would be very rare that I'd be able to compete at the level I was again, but we don't know until I start healing."

Here is the video of Dan's horrific injury

Dan's journey to recovery is just beginning, with a challenging road ahead. Although his future in Strongman competitions is uncertain, his determination remains strong.

He is optimistic about leaving the hospital by his upcoming birthday, on Monday, September 30., hoping this milestone will mark the first step toward regaining his strength and mobility.

Filip