Masters Spotlight: Swimmer, Triathlete Laurie Dodd Successful Despite Injuries

By Emily Sampl

BOULDER, Colorado, September 29. ONE of the most frustrating aspects of being an athlete is dealing with injuries. Unfortunately, Laurie Dodd, who swims for UCLA Masters, knows all about this.

After her freshman year at Princeton University, Dodd was forced to drop out of swimming because of lingering shoulder problems, which included a torn labrum and serious tendonitis. The fact that she swam mostly distance didn't help the situation. Dodd spent almost 10 years out of the water, but quickly realized how much she missed the sport and joined a Masters team about three years ago.

In the current USMS Top 10 short course yards rankings, Dodd occupies first in the 500, 1000 and 1650 yard freestyles for women ages 35-39. She is also among the top 10 in the 100 and 200 fly and 200 and 400 IM.

In addition to suffering from the lingering affects of her past shoulder injury, Dodd must now deal with a chronic lower leg injury as well. A true fighter, however, she tries not to let this affect her training or love for distance swimming.

"I usually go to about six workouts a week, sometimes 10," she said. "Distance can be hard with a shoulder injury. But I like going for a long time at a steady pace and pushing myself. You have a lot of time to think about the race too, it's not like it's over right away."

Swimming and rehabilitating her injuries aren't the only activities on Laurie's table, though. Following in the footsteps of her sister, Olympic triathlete Joanna Zeiger, Laurie competed in her first triathlon about three years ago. Earlier this month, she competed in a triathlon in Los Angeles and finished third in her age group.

"I always wanted to get involved in triathlons, my sister is a professional triathlete," Dodd explained. "Triathlons are really exciting, they're a new challenge. It's more complicated than swimming because you have so much gear. With swimming, you just have to worry about a cap and goggles."

Despite her enthusiasm towards triathlons, Dodd assures that swimming will always be her first priority.

"Swimming is my love, it's who I am. I'll never give it up," she stated.

As for the current seasons of both swimming and triathlon, Dodd has a few goals in mind.

"I'd like to continue to train (for swimming), and, hopefully, my shoulder will allow me to do that. Hopefully, I'll keep improving and get back down to the times I went as a kid. For triathlon, I want to do the Half Ironman next summer," she said.

Whether it's a triathlon or a swim meet, Laurie Dodd is certainly someone to keep an eye on in the future.

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