The Winter Olympics: Recovery Is Training
Every four years, the Winter Olympics arrive with their familiar spectacle: bodies moving at impossible speeds across ice and snow, edges carving mountainsides, blades catching light mid-spin. By the time the first event begins, athletes have spent years—often decades—preparing for moments that last less than a minute. Training cycles are mapped seasons in advance. Muscles are built for precision, not just power. Entire lives narrow toward these few weeks in winter, where preparation is measured not only in hours logged, but in how carefully the body has been conditioned to withstand what’s coming.
For U.S. athletes, recovery is treated as an extension of training, not a break from it. Many train and compete with embedded recovery teams—athletic trainers, physical therapists, massage therapists, sports psychologists, and nutritionists—often traveling with them. The work continues long after the crowd clears.
Team USA: Who to Watch
As the Winter Games approach, a few U.S. athletes stand out not only for their performances, but for what their sports reveal about preparation, impact, and recovery. These are bodies operating at the edge of speed, power, and precision—and the care that keeps them there is anything but accidental.
ERIN JACKSON
An Olympic gold medalist and one of the fastest women in the world, Erin Jackson is known for her smooth, powerful stride and remarkable consistency on the speed skating oval.
Impact of the sport
● Speeds exceeding 30 mph, requiring explosive power and flawless alignment
● Repetitive strain through hips, hamstrings, calves, and lower back
● Small imbalances that can quickly become performance-limiting
● Sustained high-adrenaline demand on the nervous system
How she recovers
● Regular manual bodywork to keep muscles supple and responsive
● Soft-tissue work to prevent tightness from becoming injury
● Mobility-focused recovery to preserve stride efficiency
● Circulation support between training and races
● Nervous-system downshifting to return to the ice feeling smooth, not strained
Why it matters
● Her longevity reflects a recovery model built on maintenance, not crisis
● A philosophy mirrored in therapeutic massage that supports everyday bodies under constant demand
ILIA MALININ
A breakout star of U.S. figure skating, Ilia Malinin is redefining the sport with unprecedented technical difficulty, including multiple quadruple jumps executed with precision and control.
Impact of the sport
● Repeated high-impact landings through ankles, knees, hips, and spine
● Extreme rotational force and timing demands
● Narrow margins between peak performance and overuse injury
● Intense mental and nervous-system load
How he recovers
● Consistent hands-on bodywork to keep muscles balanced and responsive
● Assisted stretching and soft-tissue work to protect alignment
● Circulation-focused recovery to manage impact-related soreness
● Mobility work to maintain clean mechanics
● Mental and nervous-system regulation to stay relaxed under pressure
Why it matters
● His success depends on tending to the body before something goes wrong
● Recovery is what allows moments of flight to happen at all
HILARY KNIGHT
A veteran leader and one of the most accomplished players in women’s hockey, Hilary Knight brings power, endurance, and experience to Team USA after multiple Olympic cycles.
Impact of the sport
● High-speed skating combined with frequent physical contact
● Chronic load on hips, knees, shoulders, neck, and lower back
● Cumulative fatigue from long seasons and international play
● Constant readiness and nervous-system vigilance
How she recovers
● Regular therapeutic massage and bodywork to support joint health
● Mobility and flexibility work to preserve range of motion
● Soft-tissue care to manage soreness from repeated impact
● Recovery routines prioritizing sleep and consistency
● Nervous-system regulation after high-contact play
Why it matters
● Her longevity shows that durability is built, not lucked into
● Recovery here is about trust, routine, and respecting what the body carries over time
Most of us don’t have a team of physical therapists following us from room to room. We train for marathons called workweeks, carry stress in our jaws instead of our quads, and recover—if at all—between emails and errands. That’s where intentional bodywork steps in—not as a luxury, but as maintenance for the kinds of strain we live with every day:
● Deep Tissue Massage unwinds chronic tension in shoulders, hips, and lower backs—especially for bodies that sit, stand, or brace for long hours.
● Ashiatsu uses broad, sustained pressure to work deeper layers without sharp intensity, supporting larger muscle groups and long-term fatigue.
● Swedish Massage supports circulation and nervous-system regulation, helping the body shift out of constant alertness.
● Therapeutic Massage targets specific patterns—jaw tension, neck strain, hip imbalance, lingering soreness—from repetitive stress or old injuries.
● Heated Tables encourage muscles to release more easily, helping the body feel safe enough to let go.
● CBD Lotions provide localized relief, calming inflamed or overworked areas and extending the session’s effects.
● Cupping Therapy increases circulation and decompresses tissue that feels stuck or congested.
● Infrared Sauna supports recovery from the inside out, easing stiffness and offering a quiet reset for stressed systems.
What separates Olympic recovery from everyday care isn’t technique—it’s intention. The belief that the body deserves attention before it breaks. In a massage room, that same philosophy plays out quietly through consistent touch, careful listening, and the understanding that pain is information, not failure. We may not be training for medals, but our bodies are still doing work worth recovering from.