(Calgary) Sprinter William Dutton was a the dark horse winner at the Calgary Olympic Oval Fall Classic Saturday October 1. The Canadian Development team skater from renowned Humboldt Speed Skating Club posted a victory over fellow Canadian sprint team members.
Dutton's win was a surprise to some because the young skater was coming off a season ending injury. Dutton, who suffered a serious Achille's tendon injury in March was a happy skater "I've worked hard to recover but you never know whether you can do it again until you race" he said. "It's early in the year and I have to keep working to bring the times down" Dutton added.
Dutton cut his Achille's in a training session in March of 2010 and was rushed to hospital in Calgary. Orthopedic surgeons examined the injury and determined the tendon had suffered a 10-15% severance. The danger of further and even career ending injury caused by any stretching was serious. They ordered Dutton to keep the tendon immobilized for 8 weeks to avoid further rupturing of the tendon.
The skater resumed training with the team in May and has been rehabilitating the tendon since. The next test will be the Canadian Fall World Cup trials at the end of October.
