Joana Heidrich is back after shoulder shock

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Joana Heidrich has been fighting for months, Anouk Vergé-Dépré hoped. Because after the horror injury Heidrich sustained in June 2022, it was unclear for a long time whether the two beach volleyball players would ever play together again. After the block player dislocated her shoulder during a serve in the bronze medal match at the World Cup in Rome (It), she couldn’t even move her hand for a while. A hard, painful buildup followed.

“That’s why we appreciate it all the more that we can get started now,” says Vergé-Dépré. And there is a lot at stake right away: the qualifying phase for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris has been running since January. The duo is now getting in. On Sunday it will fly to Brazil for the first tournament since the shoulder shock. An Elite16 event is coming up in Uberlandia, Vergé-Dépré/Heidrich will start in the main field, as will Tanja Hüberli/Nina Brunner.

In the crosshairs of the opponents

In December, Heidrich could barely hit a ball – now the first test under competitive conditions follows. Recently, the two 31-year-old Swiss women competed against top teams from the Netherlands and Latvia during the training camp in Athens. “They are worlds between last December and now. We’re not far from our good level,” says Heidrich, “that’s encouraging.”

The comeback of the duo of Olympic bronze medalists in Tokyo on the Pro Tour is eagerly awaited. Heidrich is aware that her opponents will target her. “I have no illusions about that. They will allude to me and put me to the test.” She is ready for this challenge, “I will do everything I can to make sure they switch to Anouk,” says Heidrich with a smile.

Vergé-Dépré/Heidrich have only been working with their new coach Spiro Karachalios since December 2021. The Greek has now passed this difficult phase with the duo. He emphasizes: “I firmly believe that every crisis offers the opportunity to develop further.” For Heidrich, this meant she had to be more variable in her offensive play.

“Precise balls weren’t my strong point before,” she explains. However, since her right shoulder does not yet have the same strength as before the injury, she had to expand her repertoire. “It feels like a fresh start. I practically have a new shoulder.” A go-around that begins with the race for an Olympic ticket. “I went through the entire process to achieve this goal,” says Heidrich.

Source : Blick