The Butler University swimmer qualified for her first Big East Championships after a two-year comeback from broken vertebrae. She didn\u2019t swim best times, but it didn\u2019t matter. Backus finally was able to contribute to her team on a big stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was everything I hoped it would be. The energy was so high. I have never been to a meet where the energy was that high,\u201d Backus told Swimming World<\/em>. \u201cI am really glad I finally got to experience that.\u201d<\/p>\n Backus went a 2:15 in the 200 backstroke, a 1:03 in the 100 backstroke and a 2:06 in the 200 freestyle \u2014 far from her best times. But that was after having to turn back around from a strong taper that got her to the Big East Championships in the first place \u2014 a performance that left her and many of her teammates in tears.<\/p>\n \u201cI actually started crying in the water. I was so overjoyed after everything I went through,\u201d Backus said after a 2:14.14 in the 200 back. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t so much about getting the big meet cut, but coming back after the injury and showing everybody that I am still here \u2014 and I am back.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Backus had nearly missed two full seasons after her injury. She had multiple fractures in her vertebrae that had to be fused with 12 screws in her spine.<\/p>\n The injury happened in September of 2016 when Backus woke up in severe pain. The origin of the injury is still unknown, but the inspirational comeback is gradually becoming known to people outside her family and team.<\/p>\n \u201cI woke up one morning in September of 2016 in pain,\u201d she said. \u201cIt progressively got worse over two weeks. I got some X-rays and found out I had four fractures in my L4 and L5 vertebrae. I went a year and a half before we really knew that surgery was my only option to fix it. I had a double spinal fusion in December (2017).\u201d<\/p>\n Backus began her comeback by swimming one length of the pool and built up from there. For several months, she could only practice for 10 minutes before the pain in her back was too much to handle.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were a lot of tough days,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
![\"ashley-backus-butler-2\"](\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/ashley-backus-butler-2-700x500.jpg\")