"Mega happy" after a difficult time - Daniel Burkart survived a knee injury and looks ahead positively

Luck in misfortune at the right time: This or something like that could describe Daniel Burkart's 2020. Now the volleyball player is confident.

Steingaden / Munich - Daniel Burkart has had an exciting time. The 17-year-old has been pursuing the goal of becoming a volleyball professional for years. For this he left his home in Steingaden at the age of 13 and moved to Munich. There Burkart attends a high school with a sport branch and plays in various teams. The corona pandemic had of course completely paralyzed volleyball. For the 1.93 meter tall man from Steingaden, it was just right, because Burkart had to undergo an operation in February. Even his career was at stake.

An inch by two inches of cartilage had loosened in his left knee. The pain became so great that an operation was inevitable. "The loose piece was removed, the cartilage ground down and holes drilled into the bone so that the cartilage grows back by itself," explains Burkart.

I was very happy and had tears in my eyes

Operations and knee problems are nothing new for the 17-year-old. Rehabilitation, physiotherapy and strength building have accompanied him throughout his career as a volleyball player. However, he found it difficult to cope with the recent setback. Burkart even thought about changing schools. In his familiar environment, it was simply unbearable for him without volleyball.

At the beginning of May came the redeeming news that for Burkart was a miracle. After numerous weeks without straining his knee, a check-up appointment with the doctor in early May showed that the cartilage had grown back one hundred percent without abnormalities. "I was very happy and had tears in my eyes," says the man from Steingaden about the moment when the doctor announced the good news. If the operation hadn't been successful, at least two more would have followed and the volleyball career would have been a long way off.

Burkart wants to go back to the field without stress

Now Burkart has turned his gaze forward again. He has been in advanced training since the end of the Whitsun holidays. But this is done very carefully and carefully. “I'm careful not to destroy the great result again,” says the 17-year-old. Bicycling and exercises with light weights are currently still part of the training plan. Burkart has set himself the goal of being back on the field in December or January. Although he missed the planned start of the season at the end of September / beginning of October, Burkart does not want to rush into anything in the future and does not want to return prematurely to the game.

First of all, he would like to gain match practice in the reserve team of the VCO Munich in the Bayernliga before returning to his traditional team, the first team. This occurs due to a special game right next season in the third highest German volleyball league. With ASV Dachau, Burkart would like to attack in the U20 youth league when he is completely fit again.

Upper school in three instead of two years

In terms of school, the Steingadener continues after the summer vacation with the eleventh grade at the grammar school. Since there is a sports branch at his school, he was able to extend the upper school from two to three years in order to have more time for training. After these exciting six months of 2020, a bit of normalcy is in sight for Burkart.

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