When Jessica Schilz was 12 years old, she was told by doctors that she would never play sport again after intensive spinal fusion surgery. However, her indomitable spirit is such that as we’re talking she is a silver medallist for Team SA after reaching the singles tennis final at the recent Region 5 Youth Games in Windhoek, Namibia, writes MARK LEMKE..
The talented young player shared the adversities and triumphs of her winding path to the podium after such a devastating prognosis. “I have always been a fighter. Growing up I learnt that life does not go your way unless you work hard to earn what you want.”
The 17-year-old suffered from idiopathic scoliosis, a genetic deformity that makes a spine curve sideways, rather than sit upright. The recovery process after the operation pushed her to the limit. “I had two rods and 14 screws implanted to hold my spine up. I had to learn how to do all the basics again like walk, eat and brush my teeth.
“The doctor said I could not play a sport again, but I refused to accept that. I pushed myself daily to recover and I was on my feet by the time I went for a check-up. He said the best thing I could do was walk, so I walked 16km every day.”
After a two-year absence from tennis, Schilz was back on court and slowly increasing her ITF (International Tennis Federation) points tally. The Capetonian is now better than ever and far from the end of her journey.
“I hope to get into a college in America next year to play tennis and study. I have not set the goal of going pro, but I will not limit myself. I want to keep growing as a person and a player and if I reach that level then I will go for it.”
Schilz was six when her grandparents introduced her to tennis as “a good way to connect with people from around the world.” The 11 years that have followed have featured the most testing of times, but the friendly and talkative athlete persevered throughout. Her performance in the Namibian capital, winning singles silver and a team gold, is a shining light on her grit, passion, and talent.
She is now back home and in her final year at Herschel Girls High School, with training and competing in full swing as she looks to scale the rankings ahead of a potential American migration. Schilz is unsure what her future will look like, but her indomitable spirit shows that no matter what life serves, she will hit a winning return.
Photo by: Frennie Shivambu
