'I couldn’t come to terms that these injuries kept recurring' - Niamh McLaughlin

Donegal star Niamh McLaughlin has opened up about how the injuries she sustained throughout the early part of her career has paved the way for the mental and physical preparation she undergoes to balance her sporting career and her personal life today. 
 
Speaking on the ‘LGFA Player Development Series: Organising Myself as a Player’, the former Footballer of the Year and current Gold Coast Suns star shares her insights on navigating the delicate balance between a thriving athletic career and a fulfilling personal life by shedding light on her training philosophy, the importance of self-care, and the resilience required to overcome injuries. 
 
"I believe that your training should be the foundation of how you want to play on the field. Whatever the game asks of you, if you can train your body to be better to meet the demands, you'll always perform better on the field," McLaughlin asserts. 
 
The midfielder’s view towards a healthy lifestyle is something much more than a top athlete preaching to the public. She is a qualified physiotherapist who has crossed the sporting boundaries from GAA, to football, to Aussie Rules. 
 
But perhaps the knowledge of past hurt has shaped McLaughlin’s view around injury prevention and preparation which has resulted in her becoming one of Donegal’s greatest ever players. 
   
A damaged ACL at 16 was her first of many setbacks, but something she was determined to get through and come back stronger from.  
 
“I was 16 when I first got injured and damaged my ACL. I hadn’t a clue what an ACL was until I hurt myself. I think until it happens to you, you don’t realise how common it is,” McLaughlin said. 
 
“At the time, I just wanted to get back to playing sport. That was my motivation. The rehab was something I had to do so I could get back out doing what I love. 
 
“I think it’s important to note that I had a great team who helped me at that time. It was difficult not playing but you have to give yourself that time and space to come to terms with any long-term injury. 
 
“There were definitely times when I was so frustrated, I just couldn’t come to terms with the fact that these injuries kept reoccurring.  
 
“The fact I had already gone through the pain of injury motivated me to get through it again. 
 
"You have to listen to your body and understand the difference between being tired and carrying an injury," she notes, drawing on her experience to effectively manage her physical wellbeing. 
 
Introduced to Strength and Conditioning (S&C) during her youth due to serious injuries, McLaughlin, now age 30, recognises the pivotal role it has played in her training life.  
 
"Sometimes we can take that sort of training for granted, but as you get older, you realise how important this stuff is in your life. It's fuel for me, not just doing gym work, but living a good life, like having a good sleep and controlling your recovery the best way you can," she said. 
 
But to fully appreciate the finer details in McLaughlin’s physical preparation, it’s important to understand her mentality and the paramount importance it has always been in her life as a team player, from her days with the Republic of Ireland team at U-17 and U-19 level, to her time with Newcastle and Sunderland. 
 
Her growing desire to keep improving never waned. 
 
"The biggest thing for me has always been clarity in my role and what it is I'm trying to achieve to help the team," she explains.  
 
“That comes down to discussions with the coaches, manager, whoever. You just have to be honest with yourself and understand where you’re at and what you need to work on. That's the mental side of it. 
 

"Last year, kicking was something I needed to work on, in terms of decision-making and giving my teammate the best opportunity when delivering the ball in. 
 
“For me that’s something I’m still working on. I needed to understand what my limits were and constantly try to improve through practice and open communication. You have to work hard at the things that don’t require talent.”