Nicholas Meregali has provided a detailed update on the shoulder injury he sustained during his run in the under 99kg division at ADCC 2024.
Michael Pixley managed to throw Meregali multiple times throughout the match. The final throw landed by Pixley resulted in a significant injury for Meregali, forcing him to tap out.
After tapping out, Meregali stayed on the floor as officials rushed to check on him, signaling that something was seriously wrong. Shortly after, it was confirmed that Meregali had suffered a shoulder injury that would force him out of the absolute division as well.
Meregali has now revealed that the injury is worse than initially thought – and that it will require surgery:
Surgery is ahead, and then 5 months of recovery.
It’s pretty sad, but I need to fix my shoulder after what happened last weekend.The way I landed on the mats completely tore my ligaments, both anterior and posterior labral, and tendons.
The moment I hit the mats, I tried to stop the match, but for those four seconds that followed, we kept going, despite my efforts.
Meregali is aware that the recovery process will not be easy, but he is willing to push it through:
These next five months will be long, but I’ll find ways to grow as a person and as an athlete.
Life has seasons, sometimes we’re in the summer when everything feels great, and other times we’re in the winter when we need to get through the cold.
This is my winter, and I’ll wait patiently for a better season to come.
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