Gripped by an intense pain and unable to move, Ana Satila had to be carried to a car where she was rushed to hospital.
Earlier that day, Satila was training as usual, making the final preparations for the opening International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup of the season in La Seu, Spain.
However, the Brazilian paddler was suddenly struck down in agony as she experienced severe pain in her stomach area.
“After my training session, I went to take a nap before lunch but when I woke up after 30 minutes I felt this pain,” said Satila.
“From lunchtime to dinner, the pain was much stronger.
“I had three guys and my coach carry me to the car to get to the hospital as I was feeling so much pain.”
Satila spent five days in hospital where examinations eventually discovered stones in her kidney and was given medication to help ease the pain.
It was a mentally challenging time for Satila as she did not know when she would return to the water.
“In the beginning, nobody knew exactly what it was, and I did so many exams,” said the 29-year-old.
“The worst part for me was to be in the hospital not knowing if I could race or not.
“It was hard being in hospital in another country. But I had doctors from the National Olympic Committee and the federation taking care of me all the time.
“As soon as I was not feeling so much pain, I could travel and the federation gave me a business ticket to fly home which was the best part.”
After returning to Brazil, Satila underwent further examinations and began her recovery as her conditions improved.
One kidney stone remains which will require surgery to remove but Satila says she will hold off having an operation until after the upcoming ICF Slalom World Championships in Penrith, Australia.
In the meantime, Satila is focusing on ensuring she stays fit and healthy for the ICF flagship event which runs from September 29 to October 4.
“It was a hard time because I wasn’t sure if I needed to do a surgery right away or not but finally when I got home the stones weren’t there,” said Satila.
“There is just one stone left. It’s in a harder place so I will need to do the surgery after the World Championships.
“Everything will be okay until then, hopefully.
“I can feel it sometimes, but I am trying to take care of my health.
“I’m feeling good and I’m happy.
“When your body tells you to stop, you can’t do anything.
“I never respected this.
“I was always trained even when I had holidays.
“I think my body got tired and told me to stop.
“The best part was that I had time to enjoy being at home where I was quiet and had my family around me.”
Satila returned to competition in mid-August where she featured at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Ranking event in Prague, Czechia.
After missing the first three ICF Canoe Slalom World Cups, Satila is now back for the final two competitions in Tacen, Slovenia and Augsburg, Germany.
The smile is back on Satila’s face in Tacen. She narrowly missed out on a place in the women’s kayak final, finishing 13th in the heats, before ranking fourth in the women’s canoe.
“I didn’t race the last two World Cups of last year because I had a problem with the shoulder and then I had this problem at the beginning of this season,” said Satila.
“So it’s been a whole season where I haven’t race.
“When I got back to Europe, I was feeling like I had never raced before.
“But this came back really quickly.
“I feel like I’m in the right way.
“I’m happy with the work that I’m doing with my coach.
“It was really hard mentally because I wasn’t sure about the future at all having not raced for such a long time, but I am here now and I’m really excited.”
Satila, who became world champion in the women’s kayak cross in 2018, is aiming to make her mark in Penrith.
“It is the first time that we’ve got a big team there,” said Satila.
“We will have doctors, physios and so many people to help me during this period which has not been so easy.
“I love Australia.
“I’ve been there so many times and I love the course to train there so I’m really looking forward to it."
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